Holly Willoughby skipped Phillip Schofield's return to television as she instead attended her friend Tamzin Outhwaite's new theatre show.
The TV presenter, 43, shared a cheerful Instagram photo with Tamzin, 53, who is starring in Abigail's Party at Stratford East Theatre in east London.
She headed to the theatre on the same night that her former co-host, 62, made his much-anticipated TV comeback on new show Cast Away, where he seemed to take a jab at Willoughby.
In his latest appearance, he promised to share his side of the story in an "unedited and honest way."
Despite the show receiving criticism from viewers and critics, Schofield appeared to be in high spirits, laughing and posing for Instagram photos with friends and family.
Schofield looked smart in a black jumper over a white shirt and seemed to be in good spirits as he spent time with his supportive daughter, Molly, who expressed how "proud" she was of him.
Reposting her friend's photos, she wrote: “What a night, thank you all for the support,” and in another post, added: “Could not be more proud.”
But viewers quickly accused him of being "less remorseful than he claims" after he seemingly took a jab at Willoughby, just minutes into the first episode.
In the show, the TV star opened up about his bitter split from ITV and This Morning, which he hosted for 21 years, while navigating life on a remote island off the coast of Madagascar.
He was ousted from This Morning in May last year after admitting to lying about his relationship with a younger male colleague.
Willoughby distanced herself from her former best friend, and during her "highly strategised" return to the This Morning sofa in June 2023, she told viewers she felt "shaken, let down and worried."
When she returned to the mid-morning show, the Dancing on Ice host began with: “Hello, Firstly, are you okay? I hope so. It feels very strange sat here without Phil.”
In the clip on Cast Away, Schofield was seen enjoying a BBQ with his family before heading off to the island and appeared to reference her speech.
In the footage he served food to his wife Stephanie and their daughters, Molly, and Ruby, 28, who laughed as he said: "If you're okay, then we're okay, and I'm okay... are you okay?"
While there's no mention of Willoughby, fans quickly picked up on the implied jab, with one viewer calling Phillip's series an "ego trip" and asserting that he's clearly “not as remorseful as he claims.”
Another post on X read: “Ooooh was that a cheeky dig at Holly Willoughby there Phillip? Are you OK; Are you OK... THAT HOLLY DIG!”
