Holly Willoughby will be greeted with open arms on This Morning after been racked with nerves about her return today, insiders say.
The star has been assured she is the future of the show and staff will look to rally behind her when she gets back.
At the beginning of the show Holly is set to address viewers in the wake of the scandal surrounding her former co-star Phillip Schofield.
An insider said: “She was naturally apprehensive about getting back after her extended break. So much has happened and it’s been one storm after another.
“But she needn’t worry as the team are behind her.
“Everyone is desperately hoping her speech draws a line under the matter, at least until the barrister-led review comes back.”
Bosses will not be shocked if Holly, who will be joined by Josie Gibson as co-presenter, cries on air.
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A source said: “Expect an outpouring of emotion as she returns, and a lot of tears and hugs.” Holly, 42, is thought to have drafted the statement herself during a family holiday in Portugal.
A source said: “They hope this is a turning point for everyone.”
Pictures have emerged of Schofield, 61, being comforted by his mum Pat, 87, on May 19 after revealing he had been axed by This Morning that day.
Last week he spoke for the first time about his affair with a young colleague.
Schofield said the relationship was consensual and it began in his dressing room in 2017 when the man was 20.
He was last night backed by Jeremy Clarkson who said the criticism over the affair with a younger man was weird and he had “never seen a witch hunt like it”.
