What will Holly Willoughby do next? Presenter ‘is in talks to host a string of primetime shows to boost her roster’ as she strives to bounce back after Schofield scandal
- READ MORE: Holly Willoughby’s fall from grace: How TV’s golden girl lost her crown
Holly Willoughby is reportedly in talks to front a string of primetime shows, as she pushes forward with her comeback in the wake of the Phillip Schofield scandal.
The presenter, 42, began her charm offensive with an appearance at the National Television Awards, with sources claiming she has ‘fully moved on’ from Phillip’s departure.
This Morning’s woes continued on Tuesday when they lost the Best Daytime prize at the NTAs for the first time in 12 years, with Holly also missing out on a nomination in the Best Presenter category.
And following a negatively-received return to the daytime show on Monday, sources claim she is keen to ‘bulk up her roster’ with a slew of new shows.
A source told The Mirror: ‘Holly loves This Morning, sees her future very much on the sofa and is not going anywhere.
Claims: Holly Willoughby is reportedly in talks to front a string of primetime shows, as she pushes forward with her comeback in the wake of the Phillip Schofield scandal
‘But she is always keen to listen about any new ideas, and opportunities, particularly in primetime, to co-exist along her daytime role.’
The source added that Holly has ‘fully moved on’ from Phillip’s scandal, which saw him quit ITV after admitting he had an affair with a younger This Morning colleague.
The source continued: ‘It was a tough time, but Holly didn’t do anything wrong, and she has always been really upfront and honest. In fact the fall-out has only made her mentally stronger, in many respects.’
Holly began her PR charm offensive on the NTAs red carpet by spending 15 minutes speaking to press outlets.
When asked to address the toxic culture claims that have engulfed the show, she said: ‘We are very blessed, we have a great team of people, we really do.
‘I know there’s been a lot of talk about things and for me personally, I don’t want to speak on behalf of other people, it’s a world I don’t recognise.
‘For me, I look around and see the team getting ready and giving it all. I just want to come to work and have more of that.’
Holly’s grand return to This Morning was met with a tepid reaction from viewers, as well as a dip in ratings.
Working hard: The presenter began her charm offensive with an appearance at the National Television Awards, with sources claiming she has ‘fully moved on’ from Phillip’s departure
Living it up! Despite missing out on the award for Best Daytime, Holly Willoughby wasn’t too down-hearted as she shared a beaming selfie with the This Morning team
Monday’s programme received just 565,000 viewers – a loss of 171,000 from Friday’s show which bagged 736,000.
A ‘cringe’ musical opening marked her return after an eight-week summer break at her luxury villa in Portugal.
Holly, smiling effusively in a black and white polka dot dress, was seen dancing along to a rendition of ABBA’s Dancing Queen by the cast of Mamma Mia The Party before embracing her fellow presenter Alison Hammond.
But fans were less than convinced about the show of forced bonhomie, with one complaining: ‘It’s too early for this cringefest!’
Once considered a crown jewel of ITV’s schedule, This Morning now faces an uncertain future following Phillip Schofield’s departure in May after he admitted to an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a much younger male colleague.
Producers will be desperate to recapture some of This Morning’s pre-Schofield scandal magic, but reactions to Monday’s opening scene suggest they are a long way off winning over viewers.
One wrote: ‘If there’s a more cringe inducing show than #ThisMorning I’d like to know.’
A second said: ‘They couldn’t have possibly opened the show worse than this’ as another asked: ‘What on earth is this fresh hell??’
Others branded it a ‘cringefest’ and ‘peak cringe’, while another wrote: ‘I’ve had surgeries more enjoyable than this’.
But others came to Holly’s defence and praised her return, with one person writing: ‘Love these 2!!! Finally can enjoy this #thismorning again. Jealous trolls just stop.’
Mixed: Holly’s grand return to This Morning was met with a tepid reaction from viewers, as well as a dip in ratings
Another agreed, tweeting: ‘Welcome back @hollywills #thismorning’ and a third echoed: ‘#thismorning loving Alison and Holly presenting together’.
Holly didn’t seem too worried by the ratings drop-off, telling MailOnline she ‘just wants the future to continue as it is.’
She admitted, however, whether that future comes to pass is not down to her, or any of her co-hosts – instead it is down to the viewers, many of whom have become disillusioned by the show and its attempts to distract from claims of a toxic culture.
Despite admitting fan support has been ‘up and down’, she still seems to have a loyal base of supporters who give her a sense of optimism for the future.
‘If I’m honest it’s been really up and down. But what’s lovely is people rallying around you. The support is there. People want us to do well. It all feels good again.’
‘I just want to the future to continue as it is. We are very blessed we have a great team of people we really do.’
She sought to focus on enjoying the NTAs on the red carpet, dodging questions around her former co-host and his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger male colleague.
‘Everybody has been so lovely tonight and everyone is so happy to meet you. I mean you’re in their living room everyday it’s not like meeting someone from Coronation Street.
‘I know there’s been a lot of talk about things and for me personally, I don’t want to speak on behalf of other people, it’s a world I don’t recognise.
‘For me, I look around and see the team getting ready and giving it all. I just want to come to work and have more of that.’
For the second year running after the notorious queuegate scandal, Holly was shunned from being shortlisted for Best Presenter at the NTAs.
Holly and Philip were accused of jumping the queue at Westminster Hall in London while tens of thousands of mourners patiently waited for 12 hours at a time to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II last year.
The presenting duo faced growing fury after images of them appearing to ‘skip the queue’ emerged – but they argued their visit was ‘strictly for reporting’.
Last night’s NTAs was also the first time since Holly, as the host of the ITV show she joined in 2009, had attended without Phillip Schofield since they began working together 14 years ago.
An independent inquiry into the Schofield scandal remains ongoing, with Eamonn Holmes yet to be questioned despite being one of his most vocal critics.
According to The Sun Jane Mulcahy KC has not quizzed the former This Morning hosts despite the findings set to be published ‘very soon.’
Drama: The source added that Holly has ‘fully moved on’ from Phillip’s scandal, which saw him quit ITV after admitting he had an affair with a younger This Morning colleague
In the months surrounding the scandal, This Morning faced questions about exactly what they knew of the affair, leading to the broadcaster announcing they were bringing the KC to ‘carry out an external review to establish the facts’.
A source told the publication: ‘Eamonn has extensive knowledge of the atmosphere at This Morning and has said before he thought Phil’s affair was “covered up”. The fact he’s not been approached is leading to confusion as he could be key in helping engender change at ITV.
Before adding: ‘If he and Ruth aren’t asked about what they know, it appears the investigation into This Morning and what went on may not be as thorough as people first believed it would be.’
READ MORE – New trailer portrays Holly as This Morning’s big hitter
MailOnline contacted Eamonn’s reps for comment.
Meanwhile Holly has reportedly already spoken to the barrister in charge of the independent inquiry.
It is said that the host has ‘fully complied and cooperated with everything that has been asked of her by the KC’, reported The Mirror.
A source said: ‘Holly was more than happy to do what was asked of her, and explain her position, and what she knew, and what she didn’t.’
Jane Mulcahy KC has been drafted in to lead the external review of the facts surrounding the scandal and is expected to publish her findings in September.
There are deep-rooted fears among bosses that they are not out of the woods yet as the results of the Schofield inquiry are anticipated this month which executives know they will have to publish in full.
Schofield resigned from This Morning in May. He admitted he had a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on the show, and later lied about it.
In a bombshell statement to the Daily Mail, the veteran TV presenter admitted that he and the man began a relationship that was more than a friendship. The ex-TV presenter describes this as ‘unwise but not illegal’.
Schofield further confessed that he lied to his employer ITV, to his colleagues, his friends and his agents at the management firm YMU.
The scandal created a state of disarray for the show, with it triggering ongoing allegations of a toxic culture behind the scenes.
Full timeline of the Phillip Schofield crisis
Monday April 17 2023
Both Schofield and co-presenter Holly Willoughby should have been scheduled to return on air together after the former took leave to appear as a witness at his brother Timothy’s trial, where he was convicted of child sex offences.
Phillip responds to his brother’s charges by saying he ‘no longer has a brother’.
Despite Schofield returning as scheduled, Willoughby is absent after contracting shingles, which sees her off air for a week.
Wednesday May 10 2023
The Sun reports Schofield and Willoughby are ‘barely speaking’, as ‘insiders’ claim their relationship had ‘cooled’ and issues had ‘rumbled for some time’.
Thursday May 11 2023
Schofield hails Willoughby as his ‘rock’ while admitting ‘the last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us’.
Monday May 15 2023
Schofield and Willoughby continue to present This Morning together, but viewers are worried by an apparent loss in chemistry between the pair, who continue discussing headlines, with neither making statements regarding an apparent ‘feud’.
Saturday May 20 2023
Schofield confirms his departure from This Morning with immediate effect, having hosted the show for more than 20 years.
Sunday May 21 2023
Following Schofield’s departure, ITV confirms that Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond will take over presenting duties for the next instalment of This Morning on Monday May 22.
Meanwhile, Holly Willoughby takes early half-term leave. She is expected to return to the show on Monday June 5.
The pair both commented on Schofield’s departure from the show, with Holly Willoughby saying: ‘The sofa won’t be the same without him’
Monday May 22 2023
In the first This Morning show since Schofield’s departure, his former colleagues Hammond and O’Leary praise him for being ‘one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had’.
Friday May 26 2023
Schofield admits to having a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning, and later lying about it.
In a bombshell statement to the Daily Mail, the veteran TV presenter admitted that he and the man began a relationship that was more than a friendship. The ex-TV presenter describes this as ‘unwise but not illegal’.
He also admitted lying to The Mail on Sunday, the Daily Mail’s sister paper, which first exclusively described his relationship with the younger man earlier this month.
In his grovelling apology, Schofield said: ‘I am making this statement via the Daily Mail, to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story [sic] which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
The Mail is aware of the younger man’s identity, but has chosen not to name him.
Saturday May 27 2023
Responding to Schofield’s statement regarding his affair, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
Willoughby takes to Instagram to vent her anger about the situation, saying Phillip lied to her about the affair. ‘When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.’
Sunday May 28 2023
Former This Morning resident doctor Ranj Singh says ‘the issues with This Morning go far beyond’ Schofield and describes it as ‘toxic’.
He states he ‘took his concerns right to the top of ITV’, with a spokesperson responding that, although the broadcaster was ‘sorry’ to hear his comments, an investigation found there was no evidence of bullying.
Willoughby replaced Fern Britton as This Morning host in 2009, and had worked alongside Schofield until his departure from the show in May 2023
Monday May 29 2023
Elaborating on his claims regarding the antics of Schofield, Mr Holmes said: ‘Thursday was playtime when he and Phillip would hit the town and then he obviously stayed overnight. There are records to show that he was brought in the next day separately in cars paid for by ITV.’
Schofield subsequently took to social media to defend himself and the show he presented for more than 20 years
Posting on Instagram, Schofield stated: ‘Now I no longer work on This Morning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it is the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. This Morning is the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there, there was no toxicity’.
Tuesday May 30 2023
Claims emerged that Schofield’s younger lover received a financial settlement from ITV.
The Daily Mail is told that he was given a payment following the end of the on-off relationship, which Schofield described as ‘unwise but not illegal’.
ITV insiders said bosses at some level must have known about any payment. One added: ‘There have been numerous pay-offs at ITV and they have always had to be arranged and sanctioned by people of some seniority.’
Wednesday May 31 2023
A clip of Schofield downing whisky with his younger lover on the set of This Morning reemerges.
The Christmas-themed segment, which aired in 2016, saw Schofield and Willoughby trying out alternative advent calendars while Schofield’s lover – w as a runner on ITV – was in the background dressed as an elf.
With Schofield delighted by the ‘smooth’ drink, he turned to his festively dressed lover and asked, ‘Do you want some?!’
After the younger man took a sip, he joked: ‘Let’s get the elf smashed!’
On May 31, ITV were forced to call in investigators to get to the heart of the Phillip Schofield scandal.
In a humiliating climbdown after a crisis staff meeting, the broadcaster said it was bringing in a barrister to ‘carry out an external review to establish the facts’, plunging the future of This Morning into doubt.
Thursday June 1 2023
Jane McDonald is announced as Schofield’s replacement to present the British Soap Opera Awards at The Lowry in Salford.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that Schofield is selling the flat where he used to spend ‘Playtime Thursdays’ with his younger lover, it has been claimed.
Schofield would take his junior colleague for secret trysts at the property before the studio runner left the next morning in a taxi paid for by ITV, Eamonn Holmes has claimed
The former This Morning presenter, 61, and his wife Stephanie, 59, are said to have put the ‘immaculate’ two-bedroom penthouse in south London on the market for £1.2million – the same price they paid in 2012 when it had just been built.
A listing appears to show the asking price has now been reduced by £100,000.
It is also revealed that the former This Morning star’s eldest daughter Molly only found out about her father’s statement to the Daily Mail in which he admitted lying over the relationship with the man just minutes before the story broke.
Friday June 2 2023
Phillip Schofield says he is too frightened to go out as he fears he will be spat on in the street following his departure from the show, in a lengthy sit-down BBC interview.
He also reveals that he will not use social media again following the fallout from the affair.
Monday June 5 2023
Holly Willoughby returns to This Morning for the first time since the affair, saying she felt ‘shaken, troubled, let down and worried’ about the events that led to Phillip Schofield’s departure from the ITV programme.
Eamonn Holmes launches a fresh attack on Phillip Schofield, insisting he doesn’t believe the former ITV star’s claim that he has made ‘one mistake’ in his 40-year career.
Speaking on his GB News programme, Phillip’s former colleague Eamonn called for ‘anyone watching today who has kissed Phillip Schofield, let us know’.
Holly returned to This Morning on Monday June , marking the first time she presented on the show since Phillip Schofield’s admission of an affair with a ‘much younger man’
Tuesday June 13 2023
Willoughby appears to snub her former This Morning co-host in a string of social media posts.
The presenter, 42, uses her Instagram Stories to post a beaming selfie with temporary co-host Dermot O’Leary.
Wednesday June 14 2023
ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall admits she failed to launch a formal investigation into Schofield’s affair when rumours emerged within the network. The chief executive is among three broadcast bosses grilled by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the wake of the presenter’s departure.
Saturday August 26 2023
Reports say Holly has spoken to the barrister in charge of the independent inquiry into the Schofield scandal.
Saturday September 2 2023
A trailer for the channel’s new daytime schedule, which starts on Monday, shows Ms Willoughby smiling for the cameras as she prepares to take to the famous This Morning sofa.
Monday September 4 2023
Holly returns to This Morning following her long break, with viewers calling the moment ‘cringeable’.
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