HOLLY Willoughby sensationally refused to appear on This Morning on Monday and will be off air for DAYS amid a growing crisis over Phillip Schofield – who I returned to screens on ITV’s flagship daytime show, Politicalite can exclusively reveal.
Holly was due to appear back on air with Phillip today, but late Sunday night it was reported that the presenter had “taken ill” with shingles – hours after promotional material had been released on social media and in major UK media outlets highlighting her and co-host Phillip’s “big return” to This Morning.
Sources claimed to Politicalite there “is still a possibility of her return this week, but she is holding out amid negotiations” over her future on the hit ITV show – that has faced growing controversy recently over Phillip Schofield’s affair and his brother who was found guilty in a child sex abuse trial as a Politicalite poll revealed that a whopping 89% think that ITV should sack Schofield.
Earlier this month we revealed that bosses at ITV held crisis talks over the embattled broadcaster Phillip Schofield following his brothers child abuse trial that forced the This Morning host off air for weeks.
Timothy Schofield – Phil’s brother was found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a period of three years.
He was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court.
In March – Politicalite revealed that Alison Hammond was replacing Phillip on the daytime show in a “trial run” after impressing ITV bosses – and we revealed the further details on why Telly bigwigs were forced remove Schofe from screens.
Phillip said after the case: “If any crime had ever been confessed to me, I would have acted immediately. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.”
Yet, in court it was heard how Phillip simply told his brother that it “should never happen again”.
His brother described him as very angry and distressed. The defendant also told his brother that he was impotent.
“The defendant then said his brother would hate him for what he was about to say, his brother said that he wouldn’t and then the defendant said he had their time together and they had watched porn and w***** together.
The court heard: “Phillip Schofield then said ‘what did you just say?’ and the defendant repeated it was last year and just once.”
The case followed another Schofe scandal – in which he was accused of “grooming” a former show runner Mathew McGreevey.
ITV said in a statement Sunday night: “Holly won’t be presenting This Morning this week as she is unwell with shingles.”
The TV favourite posted on her Instagram story to let fans know why she would not be appearing on the daytime show.
Her post said: “Hi… Just to let you know i may be away for the rest of the week as i have shingles… I’ll be back as soon as I’m better. Huge Love, Holly xxx”
Willoughby has presented This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield since 2009.
This Morning has confirmed that Willoughby will be off for ‘a few days’ and Rochelle Humes will be stepping in to present with Schofield.
More follows.
