Holly Willoughby has offered advice to fans on "how to talk to a friend" amid the Phillip Schofield scandal. Holly, aged 42, spoke out on Instagram via her Instagram Story.
The mum-of-three returned to This Morning on ITV on Monday June 5. She had taken a fortnight off in the wake of the Schofield scandal, which saw him admit an affair with a younger male runner, and quit all commitments with ITV, including the British Soap Awards and Dancing On Ice.
Holly has been hosting with Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle since her return from a family holiday in Portugal. And now she has praised a fellow co-star - Dr Zoe Williams - on Instagram.
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Holly shared how she is currently reading a new book, which she described as "like talking to a friend". Dr Zoe's You Grow Girl is "insightful" and offers "great advice", Holly said.
Holly then cryptically added: "Congratulations to @drzoewilliams on the publication of her book for girls...so insightful and full of really important advice... like talking to a friend." It comes after Holly's pre-planned statement about Schofe, 61.
Holly said: "“Firstly, are you OK? It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. And I imagine that 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. And it’s equally hard to see the toll that it’s taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all 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 this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other." She added: "And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie (Gibson), Dermot (O’Leary), Alison (Hammond), Craig (Doyle), and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you this show that we love."
