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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Katie Wilson

When will Holly Willoughby return to This Morning? Inside TV comeback amid 'toxic' claims

Holly Willoughby will return to This Morning next week following the scandal surrounding her formal co-host Phillip Schofield.

The 42-year-old is resuming her normal presenting duties on Monday June 5 after taking extended time off for the half-term break.

It is thought she will co-host the show alongside Alison Hammond - though her co-host is not yet confirmed - while ITV bosses decide who Phillip’s permanent replacement will be.

But the scandal surrounding the show is far from over and it is predicted Holly will be quizzed as part of a probe into Phillip’s affair with a young male runner on the show.

Co-hosts Alison and Dermot O’Leary will also reportedly be questioned after ITV instructed an external barrister to review the facts following Phillip’s statement and departure from the show.

Holly will be back on the This Morning sofa without Phil (S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Phillip dramatically quit This Morning after 21 years following rumours of a feud between himself and former co-host Holly.

Just days later, the presenter admitted to having an "unwise" but not "illegal" affair with a much younger ITV employee in an explosive statement.

When announcing the news, Phil, 61, resigned from ITV entirely and was dropped from his talent agency, YMU, for lying about the affair.

A spokesperson for ITV has since said the broadcaster is "deeply disappointed" by the "admissions of deceit".

"The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust," they added.

"Phillip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down."

Alison and Dermot have been holding the fort while Holly has been off (ITV)

But since Phillip quit the show, there have been claims This Morning was a ‘toxic’ workplace and there is ‘more to come out’.

The show’s former resident doctor, Dr Ranj, took to social media to explain how he had been "increasingly worried" about how things were behind-the-scenes.

He said he "didn't know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with This Morning go far beyond him."

"I even took my concerns directly to the top of ITV. The culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values, and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out,” he added.

However, sources exclusively told The Mirror that staff on the show were upset at Dr Ranj’s claims and branded them “unfair”.

The insider said: “His comments have caused real anguish among a lot of people on the show. It’s a picture they don’t recognise, and they feel Dr Ranj’s sweeping statement casts them as all somehow complicit. It’s really unfair, and has affected a lot of people’s mental health.”

ITV Chief Executive Dame Carolyn McCall said an “external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination” following Dr Ranj’s claims.

Last week Holly took to Instagram to break her silence on former bestie Phillip's affair confession - and the fact he had lied about it for years.

It read: "When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It's been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie. Holly."

The Mirror has contacted ITV for further comment on this story.

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