Holly Willoughby's This Morning statement
At 10am on Monday morning, Holly Willoughby resumed her seat on the This Morning sofa.
Her much-anticipated return began with an emotional address directly to the ITV’s viewers: “Right deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. Feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil.”
Phil – Phillip Schofield – had fronted the broadcaster’s flagship breakfast programme by her side for 14 years before resigning two weeks ago, after confessing to an affair with a 20-year-old colleague and lying repeatedly to cover it up.
Ms Willoughby has denied any knowledge of the relationship, and said she was “shaken, troubled, let down and worried” in her opening speech. Many viewers, however, aren’t convinced that Ms Willoughby should even be on the sofa.
Express.co.uk’s readers have clearly fallen out of love with Ms Willoughby, with the overwhelming majority vying for her resignation and a sizeable portion calling for This Morning to be axed entirely.
READ MORE: Amanda Holden cheekily mocks Holly Willoughby’s comeback after Schofield scandal
In a poll that ran from 12pm on Thursday, June 1, to 10am on Tuesday June 6, Express.co.uk asked readers: “Should Holly Willoughby resign from This Morning?”
A total of 6,213 readers voted, with 83 percent (5,177 votes) answering “Yes”, Mr Schofield’s long-time co-host should follow him out the door.
A far smaller contingent, 14 percent (899 votes), stuck by her and said she should remain n post. Two percent of respondents (137 votes) could’nt decide either way.
A number of comments were left below the accompanying article and Twitter post as readers laid out their thoughts on Ms Willoughby and her ties to the scandal.
Most expressed the view that she should give up her hosting duties. Twitter user Pixie86 said: “Yes get new presenters altogether or axe the show.”
User Roger W Day agreed, writing: “Just scrap the show, it is long past it’s sell-by date.”
In the wake of her Monday speech, many This Morning viewers also took to social media to suggest Ms Willoughby did not appear genuine as she delivered her remarks.
Twitter user @colone1flanders wrote: “And the Oscar for epic-level lies and cognitive dissonance goes to… #ThisMorning.”
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Commenting on an associated article by Express.co.uk, username @scrivo35 said: “Perhaps when Holly has left #ThisMorning we will get the truth. I don’t think she will be back in September.”
@JLM2430 added: “Only tuned in to see what was said no surprise totally scripted and acted speech! By the end of the summer if not before #ThisMorning will be taken off air and in September there will be a totally new show in its place.”
Some, however, rallied behind Ms Willoughby. Username @pottedplant57 wrote: “It is wonderful Holly to have you back at This Morning. This Morning team are all there with the viewers to support you through a difficult time. All the to you & the programme I watch the program daily.”
@JohnnySeifert added: “It was really emotional watching Holly‘s statement on @thismorning, it was like losing a parent where we are so used to a team, we now have one voice. Holly was really brave. For legalities there was a lot not said. But it had love.”
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