Holly Willoughby and Ruth Langford had an awkward exchange as she returned to This Morning for the first time since co-star Phillip Schofield's departure.
Viewers were left cringing as Holly took part in a live link with Loose Women star Ruth, just days after her husband Eamonn Holmes slammed This Morning and Phillip.
Following an interview with singer and Queen frontman Adam Lambert, Holly said: "Let's find out what Loose Women are talking about today. Hi there, Ruth."
Ruth appeared on the screen from the Loose Women studios, as she replied: "Yeah, we love Adam Lambert, too!," before blowing him kisses.
Viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on the moment, as one said: "Ruth looks Incredibly uncomfortable."
"Wow Holly having to crossover to Ruth on #loosewomen, considering how Ruth's husband has been sniping about Holly, that must of been awkward," added another.
Someone else said: "Feel for Ruth! this is so wrong!"
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It comes after former This Morning host Eamonn lashed out at Phillip Schofield over his bombshell interviews last week, accusing him of "lies" after the disgraced star's claim he hasn't made "one mistake" in his 40-year career.
Phillip, 61, said that his TV career was over after admitting to having an affair with a much younger male colleague - but also claimed that he is a "victim of hate" and that he has "lost everything" as a consequence of his lies.
However, Phil's former colleague and biggest critic Eamonn lashed out at the star on GB News, calling for "anyone watching today who has kissed Phillip Schofield, let us know".
"He said in his forty odd years of broadcasting that he's made one mistake, he had one kiss that he shouldn't have had," Eamonn said.
As Holly returned to screens for the first time since Phil's departure she addressed the scandal.
Opening the show with Josie Gibson, Holly told viewers she had felt "shaken, troubled [and] let down" over Phillip's admission that he'd had an affair with a younger colleague who worked on the daytime show.
She admitted it was "hard to see the toll that it's on [Phillip's] mental health" before speaking of a "new chapter" for This Morning.
Shortly after Holly's monologue, viewers were quick to turn to social media with their immediate reaction.
Some said Holly looked like she desperately need a hug while others accused her of being 'insincere' and even throwing former best friend Phil under the bus.
Returning to This Morning after an extended half-term break, Holly said: "Deep breath - firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange sitting here without Phil and I imagine you might be feeling a lot like I have - shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on, and full of questions.
"You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.
"And it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and well-being of everyone. I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.
"And from my own heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison and Craig and every single person on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you the show that we love."
