Featured Image Credit: ITV/BBC
Topics: ITV, TV And Film, Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, This Morning
Rhiannon Ingle
This Morning fans are convinced Holly Willoughby sent out a 'secret message' to Phillip Schofield in her statement released earlier today (5 June).
Willoughby opened up about the departure of her longtime co-presenter and friend Schofield in her highly-anticipated return to the ITV show for the first time since.
Joined by Josie Gibson, Willoughby spoke about the whole ordeal and just how 'troubled' she felt following the controversy but it seems This Morning viewers are under the impression she was sending a hidden message to Schofield.
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In her statement, which lasted roughly round 90 seconds, Willoughby only mentioned Schofield's name the once.
She said: "It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil," before addressing viewers at home and letting them know she also felt ‘shaken, troubled, let down' by the recent events which saw Schofield confess that he had an affair with a younger colleague and then lie about it.
Willoughby said: "You, me and everyone gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth – who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process."
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She went on to address the desire to ‘heal for the health and wellbeing for everyone,’ as she emotionally read a pre-written statement.
Both Willoughby and Gibson then embraced in a hug afterwards before promptly carrying on with the rest of the show.
Fans have since hit out against Willoughby following her statement on This Morning, claiming that she was sending a secret message to Schofield - who she co-presented the show with for over a decade.
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Viewers have interpreted the statement - namely the fact Willoughby only mentioned Schofield's name once and soon continued with the morning show's lighter entertainment topics - as an indicative sign their friendship was well and truly over now.
One viewer struck out: "Insincere load of tosh. Couldn't even say his name. Then a quick 'well that's that, let's move on now'."
A second fan of the programme echoed: "Couldn't even say Phillip's name. If you've been close friends with someone for so long, no matter how let down by them you feel, you don't just brush them off like she did. Terrible statement from Holly."
"You couldn’t even mention his name," chimed in a third before continuing, "he was your close friend [...] very poor from you Holly!!"
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Others compared Willoughby's statement with fellow members' statements from the This Morning family, with one adding: "She needs to go. I’ve got more respect for Alison and Dermot tackling it head on and genuine tears from Alison."