Holly Willoughby refuses to use Phillip’s name as she fights tears on This Morning

Holly Willoughby didn't use her former co-star Phillip Schofield 's name during a pre-prepared statement as she fought back tears after finally returning to This Morning.

Holly, 42, was back on the hit daytime programme for the first time since her one-time close friend and colleague Phil, 61, exited the show after more than two decades. Initially, reports of a "feud" between the pair swirled and it later emerged Phil had an affair with a younger male ITV employee.

Mum-of-three Holly made her first on-screen appearance today, 5 June, since the news broke, kicking off Monday's This Morning with an emotional speech.

Sitting beside co-presenter Josie Gibson, 38, Holly said she felt "shaken, troubled, let down and worried" during the last few weeks of controversy.

Referring to Phillip's lies about his affair on the show, Holly said: "We gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth."

Sporting a classic white dress, Holly thanked Jodie for being there before looking directly into the camera to address viewers at home. She asked: "Firstly, are you okay?"

Naming Phil for the first and only time, Holly went on to say: "It feels very strange indeed, sitting here without Phil, and I imagine that you have all been feeling a lot like I have – shaken, troubled, let down.

"Worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on, and full of questions."

Holly then began to talk about Phil in third person and didn't mention his name again in the rest of her statement. She continued: "You, me, and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth.

"Who acted in such a way that they, themselves, felt that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved."

Holly then took a deep breath as she said: "That is a lot to process and it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health." At this moment, the presenter's voice started shaking and her eyes filled with tears.

She said: "I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal, for the health and wellbeing of everyone.

"I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other."

Holly went on to thank her fans "from my heart" for their support and "kind messages", and then expressed her gratitude to them for "being here this morning".

She continued: "Myself, Josie, Alison, Dermot, Craig, and everyone who works on this show will continue to work hard every day to bring you the show that we love."

Holly then turned to Josie and said: "So on that note, Josie…" before they shared a warm embrace. Josie then said: "All we can do now is be the family that we are," to which Holly replied: "Exactly".

Veteran presenter Holly previously remained tight-lipped while speculation of a spat between her and her former co-host raged on, but Phil has gone on to open up about his affair and the former pals' fall-out in a tell-all interview with the BBC's Amol Rajan.

The former ITV star said he "didn't tell anybody" about his affair with his former This Morning colleague, confirming Holly "did not know" about it.

In an interview with The Sun, the 61-year-old presenter apologised to her for lying about the relationship, and concluded: "I've lost my best friend".

He added: "I let her [Holly] down. I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down. Holly did not know [about the affair] and she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say: 'I am so, so sorry that I lied to you'.

"She didn't reply and I understand why she didn't reply as well. So yeah, if anyone is in any way linking Holly to this, that is ­absolutely, wholly untrue."

They were known and loved for their once close bond, regularly delighting viewers with their antics and effortless ease with one another. The duo fronted This Morning together from 2009, after first meeting while working on Dancing on Ice back in 2006.

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