This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby is reportedly an “emotional wreck” following the intense backlash over former presenter Phillip Schofield. This comes after the pair found themselves at the centre of a national scandal with the show, with former co-host Phil stepping down suddenly before it he admitted he had an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young production assistant.
But Holly, 42, has laid low since the news emerged, with the star choosing to take a break from the show, with plans to return next week. In a short statement released on social media over the weekend, Holly said Phil’s lies had been “hurtful”, reports the Mirror.
Rumours of a “toxic” atmosphere on the set of the popular ITV daytime show have also been swirling since Phil stepped down from presenting duties and made the shock admission he had been in a relationship with the young man who worked on the show. Eamonn Holmes, who previously presented This Morning with wife Ruth Langsford but left in 2021, has also claimed the TV show staged a “cover-up” to protect the popular hosts, and said both Holly and Phil were “uncaring” towards other staff members.
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Holly has been laying low since the scandal unfolded last week, According to Closer, the mum-of-three, who shares 13-year-old Harry, 11-year-old Belle and seven-year-old Chester with husband Dan Baldwin, is “completely crushed” and is an “emotional wreck” as she struggles to make a decision about her future on This Morning.
“She was already devastated from the fallout with Phil and how everything transpired, so to now have the negative spotlight turned around on her is doubly heartbreaking, not to mention for her kids too,” a source told the magazine. "Holly’s children and older now and are at an age where they read things online and fully understand what’s going on,” they added.
Holly is reportedly ready to “pull the plug” on her career on the show “if it means protecting her family”. The presenter is fearful her kids are "hearing things at school about their mum and being questioned by friends" which is upsetting for the youngsters.
"And for Holly, that’s where the line is drawn,” the source explained.
The Mirror has approached Holly’s rep for comment.
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