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Phillip Schofield – latest: Holly Willoughby’s This Morning statement torn apart by David Baddiel

ITV presenter’s statement addressing the scandal surrounding her former co-host was ridiculed by some viewers for being ‘dramatic’

Ellie Harrison,Inga Parkel,Peony Hirwani
Wednesday 07 June 2023 16:48 BST
Holly Willoughby addresses Phillip Schofield controversy for the first time on This Morning

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Comedian David Baddiel has mocked Holly Willoughby’s statement about the Phillip Schofield saga on Twitter.

“When Holly Willoughby said ‘Firstly, are you OK?’ I genuinely thought she was talking to someone behind camera, before realising that of course she was talking to us,” he wrote on Twitter.

MP John Nicholson also mocked Willoughby’s opening statement from Monday’s episode of This Morning during a Culture, Media and Sport Committee taking place in Parliament on Tuesday (6 June).

The latest episode of the ITV daytime show opened with no mention of Schofield, in stark contrast to yesterday’s broadcast, which saw Willoughby give an emotional statement addressing the scandal surrounding her former co-host.

Schofield, 61, gave an interview to the BBC last week, where he described the impact of the media onslaught since he admitted to having a relationship with a much younger This Morning employee while he was still married.

Stars including Piers Morgan, Jeremy Clarkson and Rupert Everett have all questioned the intensity of the backlash against Schofield. Writing in his column over the weekend, former Top Gear star Clarkson said he was “baffled” by the uproar.

Amanda Holden mocks Holly Willoughby’s ‘Are you OK?’ This Morning statement

Amanda Holden is the latest to brutally mock Holly Willoughby’s statement made on This Morning on Monday (5 June) after she presented the show alone for the first time since Philip Schofield’s exit.

Read what Holden had to say here:

(Instagram via @noholdenback / ITV)

Willoughby’s remark on Monday’s show has been subject to criticism online

Inga Parkel6 June 2023 18:30

Video: ITV boss questioned over ‘toxic aubergine' comment made by This Morning editor

ITV director of policy grilled over 'bizarre' aubergine comment made by This Morning editor
Inga Parkel6 June 2023 18:00

David Baddiel mocks Willoughby’s emotional statement on Schofield

The comedian wasn’t impressed when the This Morning host opened yesterday’s episode by asking viewers, “Are you OK?”

Inga Parkel6 June 2023 17:30

This Morning viewing figures shot up briefly for Willoughby’s statement yesterday

According to TV writer Scott Bryan, This Morning had a surge of an additional 300,000 viewers yesterday at 10am, who were tuning in to see Holly Willoughby’s statement on the Schofield fall-out.

“Then 200,000 of those viewers immediately went away afterwards,” he tweeted.

Inga Parkel6 June 2023 17:00

Everything we know about Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s ‘fall-out’

Before Phillip Schofield admitted to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger This Morning colleague, his departure from the show was thought to have stemmed from a rift with co-host Holly Willoughby.

Jacob Stolworthy has the details of their rumoured fallout:

(Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby news

Inga Parkel6 June 2023 16:30

VOICES: Holly tried her damnedest – but This Morning is anything but a functional family

According to Samuel Fishwick, Holly Willoughby’s speech on yesterday’s This Morning was not enough to convince him of all being well on set.

For him, it was an example of putting on a great show for the viewers.

“What a masterful performance this was: smart and heartfelt, even if scripted,” he writes. “Revenge dress. Revenge hair. The textbook power plays with which to exorcise a disgraced work husband.”

Read the full op-ed below:

(ITV)

What a masterful performance this was: smart and heartfelt, even if scripted. Revenge dress. Revenge hair

Inga Parkel6 June 2023 16:00

Holly Willoughby returns to This Morning sofa after Phillip Schofield scandal

ICYMI: This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby returned to the softa this week for the first time since her former co-host Phillip Schofield resigned from the show and ITV altogether.

Schofield’s exit came as he admitted to lying about having an “unfair, but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.

On Monday (5 June), Willoughby made her highly anticipated return, where she gave an emotional speech addressing the controversy, saying she felt “shaken, troubled, let down and worried for “the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s going on”.

Read more:

Holly Willoughby gave a divisive Phillip Schofield speech. upon her ‘This Morning’ return
Holly Willoughby gave a divisive Phillip Schofield speech. upon her ‘This Morning’ return (ITV)

‘I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite as patronising,’ one viewer said

Inga Parkel6 June 2023 15:34

MP pokes fun at Holly Willoughby’s statement on Phillip Schofield

MP pokes fun at Holly Willoughby's statement on Phillip Schofield
Roisin O'Connor6 June 2023 14:54

Eamonn Holmes launches yet another attack on ‘big mouth’ Holly Willoughby

Eamonn Holmes has launched yet another attack on disgraced former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield and his ex-co-host, Holly Willoughby.

My colleague Louis Chilton reports:

Eamonn Holmes launches yet another attack on This Morning hosts

Willoughby returned to ‘This Morning’ alongside Josie Gibson on Monday 5 June

Roisin O'Connor6 June 2023 14:01

This Morning editor’s aubergine rant was ‘extremely ill-judged’, ITV boss says

An ITV boss has said comments by Martin Frizell were “extremely ill-judged”, after the This Morning editor referred to aubergines when asked about allegations of a “toxic” work environment on the programme.

At a Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing on Tuesday 6 June to talk about the draft Media Bill, Magnus Brooke, group director of strategy, policy and regulation at ITV, was questioned about the show by MP John Nicolson.

Mr Nicolson called Mr Frizell’s remarks to a journalist “outrageously dismissive and flippant on camera about an immensely serious issue”.

Full story:

This Morning editor’s aubergine rant was ‘extremely ill-judged’, ITV boss says

Martin Frizell’s response to allegations of a ‘toxic’ work environment on the programme was ‘dismissive and flippant’, Magnus Brooke told MPs

Roisin O'Connor6 June 2023 13:31

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