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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Holly Willoughby breaks with tradition amid This Morning absence as she takes break after 'interesting' post

Holly Willioubgy appears to have broken with tradition as she takes an extended break from This Morning. The presenter hasn't been seen on the ITV daytime programme since it was announced that Phillip Schofield was 'stepping back' from his role on the show.

The programme was back on Monday (May 22) for the first time since it was announced that Phillip had sensationally quit This Morning after 20 years. The presenter said in a statement that the programme had 'become the story' and that he wanted to "do what I can to protect the show that I love" after rumours were rife that he and Holly, 42, were 'barely speaking' behind the scenes amid a 'rift' between the pair.

But amid the claims, Phillip, 61, hailed Holly as his "rock" in an unusual statement to The Sun before his exit. He added: "We’re the best of friends – as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone. Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her. The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us."

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And as This Mornign returned, Holly was nowhere to be seen, despite ITV confirming she'll continue to host the popular programme with other members of the 'This Morning family', as Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary stepped in.

She made the decision to take an extra week off work ahead of her pre-planned half-term break next week. The mum-of-three will therefore return to the helm of the show on June 5.

But that isn't the only change Holly has appeared to make. Away from This Morning, the TV beauty has her own business. She launched the lifestyle brand Wylde Moon, which explores topics from "beauty and fashion to energy and healing" but also features its own boutique, back in 2021.

And as part of her business, Holly sends out weekly newsletters where she sits down and pens a message to her subscribers and also writes an online journal. But the latest email appears not to have been sent as Holly takes away following her This Morning drama.

In last Monday's email, Holly shared her thoughts on the passage of time as she struggled to believe we were already mid-way through May. "The older I get, the more I appreciate how daunting the concept of time passing can be," she typed in her newsletter. "I can always remember my nan saying things like ‘wait ‘til you get to my age…then it really starts flying by’– and I now I really get it.

Holly often shares images and other thoughts to her Wylde Moon website and socials (Wylde Moon Instagram)

"If this resonates with you, I wanted to share some advice one of my friends gave me when we were talking about this exact thing. She told me that instead of worrying how quickly it’s going, we should look at things differently and appreciate that with every moment (big or small) that passes, we're creating a future filled with joy, love, and endless possibility.

"If we can remember to reflect on just how lucky we are to be making all these memories, the passage of time can feel really positive. It’s a bit like that old saying, 'Time is a luxury that the wise appreciate'."

But fans have noticed an "interesting" social media post from Holly just hours before Phillip's exit statement landed. Taking to her lifestyle account, Wylde Moon Holly brushed off the drama with a cryptic graphic marking an astrological event. The post said: "Today we embrace the new moon in Taurus with open arms. She has arrived alongside beautiful Jupiter to boost positive and good fortune.

"Indulge in the abundance this lunation brings for it's time to make your wildest dreams come true," it continued. The quote was shared with the caption: "This New Moon comes with abundant opportunities - in particular for a few zodiac signs. Tap the link in our bio to read all about the good fortune that could be coming your way."

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