Holly Willoughby is reportedly an “emotional wreck” and worried for her family over the intense Phillip Schofield backlash.
The 42-year-old has been at the centre of a growing scandal surrounding This Morning and disgraced co-host Phil, who has recently admitted to having an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young production assistant.
Rumours of a “toxic” atmosphere on the set of the popular ITV daytime show have also been swirling since Phil stepped down from presenting duties and made the shock admission he had been in a relationship with the young man who worked on the show.
Eamonn Holmes, who previously presented This Morning with wife Ruth Langsford but left in 2021, has also claimed the TV show staged a “cover-up” to protect the popular hosts, and said both Holly and Phil were “uncaring” towards other staff members.
Holly has been laying low since the scandal unfolded last week, and released a short statement on social media over the weekend, in which she said Phil’s lies had been “hurtful”.
According to Closer, the mum-of-three, who shares 13-year-old Harry, 11-year-old Belle and seven-year-old Chester with husband Dan Baldwin, is “completely crushed” and is an “emotional wreck” as she struggles to make a decision about her future on This Morning.
“She was already devastated from the fallout with Phil and how everything transpired, so to now have the negative spotlight turned around on her is doubly heartbreaking, not to mention for her kids too,” a source told the magazine.
“Holly’s children and older now and are at an age where they read things online and fully understand what’s going on,” they added.
Holly is reportedly ready to “pull the plug” on her career on the show “if it means protecting her family”.
The presenter is fearful her kids are "hearing things at school about their mum and being questioned by friends" which is upsetting for the youngsters.
"And for Holly, that’s where the line is drawn,” the source explained.
The Mirror has approached Holly’s rep for comment.
