Holly Willoughby has returned to ITV’s This Morning sofa for the first time in two-weeks.
The 42-year-old presenter has been absent from screens following controversy over co-host Phillip Schofield and a falling-out between the pair.
Phillip, 61, left his role last month after admitting to a relationship with a younger co-worker. ITV has launched an investigation.
Both Twitter and the Nottingham public have been reacting to what she said, and commenting on whether Willoughby should stay or resign from This Morning.
Zara Morrison, 17, thought Willoughby should stay, saying the scandal wasn’t Willoughby’s business.
“She’s not the one who dated the younger man, it’s Philip Schofield. I feel like she should stay, it’s her job, she’s been on there for years and she’s done nothing wrong. If people say she has done wrong, then that’s just them being haters.” she said.
Speaking with fellow This Morning presenter Josie Gibson, Holly said she felt “shaken, troubled, let down and worried” ahead of her return.
“You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth,” she said.
Following speculation about her future with the show and calls in the media for her to leave, Holly said recent events had been “a lot to process” and said that it felt “very strange indeed sitting here without Phil.”
She added: “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.”
Philip Rushell, 53, and Kane Clark, 24, two Nottingham locals didn’t see the statement as newsworthy.
“I have no opinion. It’s a bit bizarre that we’re talking about it. It’s not a big topic,” Rushell said.
“I’m not really interested to be honest.” said Clark.
This is theatre. It's inconceivable that Holly Willoughby didn't know anything about what Phillip Schofield was doing. She must think we're daft to believe a word of this. Do better, ITV. If even a shred of evidence surfaces later contradicting her, she's finished. https://t.co/68xLGiN92e
— Paul Dawkins (@Paul__Dawkins) June 5, 2023
Holly Willoughby statement was TOP STORY on national news this morning, during unprecedented cost of living crisis pushing hundreds of thousands of families to brink, explosion of food banks and decimated health service. The TOP STORY. Is that really where peoples heads are at?
— Dominic McSherry (@DomMcSherry1) June 5, 2023
This Morning thinks that they can do Holly Willoughby's hair, have her say how magic their show is, smile, give puppy dog eyes and say how 'deceived' they have all been and reckon that the audience will be stupid enough to go along with it.
They're taking you for mugs.— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) June 5, 2023
Viewers can watch on ITV1.