Holly Willoughby once again faced a food nightmare on This Morning which had her gagging. Holly is well known for her awkward encounters with her food 'nemeisis', tuna, on the programme – but this time, it was squirrel - which left many viewers less than impressed with the ITV show's cooking segment.
Phillip Schofield immediately predicted a response from viewers as the segment began - and it would seem he was right. The presenter was back at the helm of the daytime programme on Thursday (March 2) alongside Holly as they appeared for their final show of the week, as reported by the MEN.
Phillip, 60, and Holly, 42, were joined by two guests for a part of the show which sees them talking through the latest stories hitting the headlines as well as the quirkier tales making the news. During the chat, the foursome were served a risotto made with squirrel by chef Phil Vickery.
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It came as a wildlife campaign group has said grey squirrels should be served in restaurants. Exmoor Squirrel Project has encouraged people to eat grey squirrels in a bid to help save the native red squirrel.
However, Holly was left gagging over the dish and refused to take a bite while Phillip tried the risotto - along with a helping of buttermilk fried squirrel - cooked by Phil Vickery himself in the studio kitchen. The mum-of-three said: "No thank you," as she was offered the food before she later shared her thoughts.
"It's so weird, the thought of it, I can already feel it in my throat... Makes me feel a bit" before holding her hand against her mouth as if she was going to throw up.
"I understand this is a highly emotive subject and if you are a vegetarian or vegan, then this is horrific to imagine," Phillip said, before continuing: "I don't have a problem with taste, texture or anything – I wouldn't know what it was!"
He added: "I mean it could be chicken. It could be a little bit of pork." Holly had also earlier said: "It’s meant to be really good for you. It’s lower fat content, it’s a great source of protein, so it’s meant to be really, really good."
Earlier, after sharing that chef Phil would be cooking squirrel, Phillip said: "Now, we ought to explain this before Twitter explodes." And he was right as This Morning viewers flocked to social media to share their horror.
@Gillypants tweeted: "Really.. squirrel.. I won’t be watching, what’s next cat ?? Shameful." @Crazier fumed: "Squirrel risotto? That’s appalling." @DavidMackayy wrote: "A humane way to save the squirrels is to… eat them? Yeah ok."
@Princesseilss_ added: "Thoughts on @thismorning today and eating squirrels?? Brave… I’m not sure I could do it!! #ThisMorning #squirrel." But @Boppity_Boo34 said: "Phil is right though there will be outrage on here about them eating squirrel yet we eat little lamb and cow etc."
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