Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield return to This Morning after ‘awkward’ reunion and turmoil engulfing the show
HOLLY Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have returned to This Morning for a second day after their “awkward” reunion.
As turmoil continues to engulf the show, the pair put on a brave face as they appeared via video link on Lorraine ahead of going live at 10am.
Lorraine promised a “great show” from Holly and Phil “as usual” as she handed over to the duo after discussing the best post-party snack.
Phil jumped in to reveal: “Either a bacon sarnie or a KFC for me.”
As he laughed at his choices, Holly quietly spoke over him to say: Macaroni cheese for me, all the stodge.”
The pair failed to glance at each other during the exchange.
Holly posted a snap of her This Morning dress for fans on Instagram moments before.
“Morning Tuesday…”, she wrote.
“See you on This Morning with Gino D’Acampo, astrologer Hagan Fox, money expert Martin Lewis, Corrie’s Ellie Leach and the real James Bond!!!!”
Holly and Phil came to a truce in order to present the ITV show together yesterday.
Despite growing tension behind the scenes, the former best pals attempted to disguise their rift in front of This Morning viewers.
Many had chosen to tune in for the first time – just so they could watch the body language between them.
Yesterday we told how Phil has hired a lawyer after being “blindsided” by how public their fall out has become.
Phil feared he would be axed by ITV after it emerged Holly, his TV partner of 14 years, was prepared to strike out alone on the show.
It led him to release an emotional statement about their friendship.
Pouring out his heart, Phil said: “As I have said before, Holly is my rock.
“We’re the best of friends — as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone.
“Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her.
“The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
Phil took three weeks off the show in March as his brother Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of child sex offences.
He is due to be sentenced next week.
After news broke about Holly and Phil were barely speaking off-camera, his statement added: “My family went through a real ordeal.
“And Holly’s support throughout meant the world to me, as did the support of my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our amazing viewers.
“And of course Holly has herself been ill with shingles.
“Whatever happens, we still have each other to count on.”
Phil lobbied for Holly to join This Morning as co-presenter when Fern Britton, 65, left the show.
Holly joined him in 2009 and the pair — who also co-host Dancing on Ice — have earned 12 National Television Awards between them.
‘The older I get, the more I appreciate how daunting the concept of time passing can be,’ she mused. ‘I can always remember my nan saying things like ‘wait ’til you get to my age…then it really starts flying by’– and I now I really get it.’
‘If this resonates with you, I wanted to share some advice one of my friends gave me when we were talking about this exact thing.
‘She told me that instead of worrying how quickly it’s going, we should look at things differently and appreciate that with every moment (big or small) that passes, we’re creating a future filled with joy, love, and endless possibility.
‘If we can remember to reflect on just how lucky we are to be making all these memories, the passage of time can feel really positive. It’s a bit like that old saying, ‘Time is a luxury that the wise appreciate’.’