Holly Willoughby has shared a statement addressing Phillip Schofield's recent scandal in her first This Morning appearance since he stepped down.
Schofield announced he was stepping down from hosting the show after admitting to having an affair with a much younger man while he was still married and who was also an ITV employee.
He said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail at the time that he was "deeply sorry" for lying about the relationship to ITV, his colleagues, loved ones, and agents.
"I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning," Schofield said. "Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship."
He admitted that while the relationship was not illegal it was "unwise" and is now over.
Willoughby, who was a close personal friend of Schofield as well as his long-time co-host, returned to the show on Monday, June 5, with Josie Gibson stepping in as co-host, as she addressed the scandal in a statement opening the show.
She told viewers: "Firstly, are you ok? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil and I imagine you might have 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.
"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 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."
Willoughby continued: "And it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us 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 the show holds for all of us, we can find the strength in each other.
"And from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning."
She added that she and the other presenters will "continue to work hard every single day to bring you the show that we love".
In February 2020, Schofield took to Instagram to announce that he was gay - something he was able to "come to terms with" thanks to the support from his daughters and wife of 27 years, Stephanie Lowe. Schofield and Lowe separated shortly after.
At the time of his coming out, Schofield told The Sun: "Steph is my closest confidante. She's been amazing. I have no secrets from Steph."
After stepping down from This Morning, Schofield also said in a statement: "I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story
"Throughout my career in TV - including the very difficult last few days - I have always done my best to be honorable and kind.
"I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can't go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love.
"So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future."
And on May 19, the presenter's brother, Timothy Schofield, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of 11 sexual offenses involving a child between 2016 and 2019.
