Holly Willoughby had an awkward moment with Ruth Langford after returning to This Morning for the first time since Phillip Schofield’s exit. Holly had taken a break from the show after news broke of her co-hosts affair scandal with a younger colleague.
She made her return to the ITV show on Monday morning, June 5, where viewers noticed an uncomfortable exchange between a live link with Holly and Loose Women star Ruth, just days after her husband Eamonn Holmes criticised This Morning and Phillip.
Following an interview with singer Adam Lambert, Holly said: "Let's find out what Loose Women are talking about today. Hi there, Ruth,” as Ruth appeared on the screen from the Loose Women studios, reports the Mirror.
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Ruth replied: "Yeah, we love Adam Lambert, too!," before blowing him kisses. Fans then took to social media to discuss the uncomfortable interaction.
One viewer said: "Ruth looks Incredibly uncomfortable."
"Wow Holly having to crossover to Ruth on #loosewomen, considering how Ruth's husband has been sniping about Holly, that must of been awkward," added another. Someone else said: "Feel for Ruth! this is so wrong!"
It comes after former This Morning host Eamonn accused Phillip Schofield of “lies” following his bombshell interview last week where Phillip claimed he hasn't made "one mistake" in his 40-year career.
Phillip, 61, said his TV career was over after admitting to having an affair with a younger ITV colleague, but also claimed he is a "victim of hate" and that he has "lost everything" as a consequence of his lies.
But, Phillip’s former colleague Eamonn slammed him on GB News and called for "anyone watching today who has kissed Phillip Schofield, let us know".
"He said in his forty odd years of broadcasting that he's made one mistake, he had one kiss that he shouldn't have had," Eamonn said.
As Holly returned to screens for the first time since Phil's departure she addressed the scandal. Opening the show with Josie Gibson, Holly told viewers she had felt "shaken, troubled [and] let down" over Phillip's admission that he'd had an affair with a younger colleague who worked on the daytime show.
She admitted it was "hard to see the toll that it's taken on [Phillip's] mental health" before speaking of a "new chapter" for This Morning. After Holly's monologue, viewers were quick to turn to social media with their thoughts on the situation.
Some said Holly looked like she desperately need a hug while others accused her of being 'insincere' and even throwing former best friend Phil under the bus.
Returning to This Morning after an extended half-term break, Holly said: "Deep breath - firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange sitting here without Phil and I imagine you might be 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 well-being 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.
"And from my own heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison and Craig and every single person on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you the show that we love."
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