Holly Willoughby takes two-month break from This Morning

Holly Willoughby has taken a two-month break from This Morning.

The ITV presenter - who once hosted the morning talk show alongside former co-host Phillip Schofield - usually takes two months off every year for her summer holidays and gives viewers a final farewell ahead of her annual break.

ITV

However, Willoughby signed off on Thursday (6 July) as normal with a simple: "See you, bye".

This Morning has now entered what Willoughby has referred to as a 'new chapter' following Schofield's departure which came shortly before he admitted to having an affair with a younger colleague.

Since then, the daytime programme has seen a steady rotation of co-presenters joining the programme to help Willoughby with her presenting duties.

The line-up of co-hosts has so far included the likes of Dermott O'Leary, Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson and, fan-favourite, Craig Doyle.

While many viewers have their own pet theories on who will be Schofield's replacement, the network has not yet confirmed any concrete details.

ITV shared an update on the matter earlier last month with a spokesperson saying that any further announcements concerning future presenters of the show would be made 'in due course'.

They added: "In the meantime, we will draw on the This Morning family for presenters to co-present with Holly."

Amidst the constant rotation of presenters, Willoughby has now taken her annual two-month break for the year and will return to her presenting duties in autumn.

ITV

Despite Willoughby not mentioning her two-month exit from the show beforehand, it is understood that her scheduled time off for summer holidays has not been brought forward.

According to The Sun, a TV insider has since confirmed: "Holly will return after a usual and planned break over the summer.

"Nothing has been pushed forward or changed over the weekend."

The news follows Willoughby being hit with a backlash after she allegedly sympathised with Just Stop Oil protesters who disrupted Wimbledon.

Her comments came during a discussion with LBC presenter, Nick Ferrari, on about the activist group's methods of protest.

She can be heard saying: "But then you look, we had the hottest day globally on record… you know? I mean, it's…" before trailing off.

Ferrari then stated: "We have got a massive problem. Those spectators, what are they meant to do? All that has happened is their afternoon has been disrupted."

"I know, I understand," Willoughby responded. "But I guess their hope is that someone higher up will start to make a difference…. I don't know the answer."

The interview garnered quite the response from viewers online with one branding her a 'hypocrite' after taking a helicopter to Glastonbury fest.