Viewers were left confused as Phillip Schofield appeared to be hosting This Morning alone today while Holly Willoughby was nowhere to be found.
Phillip, 60, was introduced towards the end of ITV Lorraine to discuss what was coming up next after the Scots broadcaster's show finished. Lorraine, 63, couldn't hide her surprise and said: "You're on your own! Where's Holly?"
To which Phillip cryptically responded: "I'll explain where Holly is soon..." before revealing that Holly, 41, was absent for a very sweet reason - she was watching her son's nativity play and would be joining him back in the studio later in the show.
Following an ad break at the top of the programme, Phillip told viewers: "You might notice there is someone missing, that's because Holly is busy doing something that a lot of parents up and down the country can relate to. She is at Chester's nativity play."
Holly then appeared on the screen, looking very blurry from the bad connection, and explained: "I'm at Chester's school. The cast are getting ready for quarter past 10, they're all going on stage. You say nativity, there is a nativity of sorts but we're actually following Clarence the camel, who is on a journey to find his home. Will he get there? I don't know.
"I can see behind the camera here that there are lots of children dressed as Christmas puddings, so it's all going off here." Phillip then asked the presenter what her son is playing, to which she responded: "Chester is playing Father Christmas. He has a very important role. He's full of lots of stuffing and he's looking super cute."
"I've got my tissues in my pocket, I'm ready to cry because it's been very emotional," Holly then shared before explaining it's the perfect way to start Christmas as it's now December 1.
Holly, who recently paid tribute to Keith Lemon as she filmed the final Celebrity Juice episode, then revealed that the headmaster of the school was holding her camera for her to be able to broadcast live from the school. "Normally I'm in all sorts of trouble, but the headmaster is holding the phone. So thank you to him."
Phillip then told her to enjoy the show before explaining that she'll be back in the studio as soon as the play is finished. "You'll be here later in the show," he said as Holly replied: "I will, I'm running there as quickly as possible and thank you for letting me come here. It means the world!"
While some fans were initially left baffled by her absence – following her live broadcast, many couldn't help but poke fun at her phone's camera quality. Flocking to Twitter, one person wrote: "Holly you need a new phone #ThisMorning".
Another joked: "Holly Willoughby is currently broadcasting to #ThisMorning via a Nokia 3210," as a third chimed: "#ThisMorning you need an upgrade Holly x let me know x I have good deals going xx".
Meanwhile, one person pointed out how great it is that she's able to go to the play. They wrote: "Lovely to see @hollywills keeping it real for the working mums who broadcast live on @thismorning from her son's school so she didn't miss his nativity play! These important moments matter. #ThisMorning #workingmum #family".
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