Holly Willoughby has broken her silence on her former TV bestie Phillip Schofield's admission he had an affair with a younger ITV colleague – and he lied about it.
Holly, 42, issued a statement on Instagram story this evening to share her "hurt" over the revelation.
It reads: "It's taken time to process yesterday's news.
"When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.
"It's been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie. Holly."
The presenters, who had been close friends up until recently, had worked on This Morning together since 2009.
Holly and Phil also worked together presenting Dancing on Ice and the pair socialised outside of work, too.
In a memorable TV moment, the TV presenter was by Phillip's side when he came out as gay to his fans – with Phil labelling Holly as a "sister" to him.
He was seen declaring on the show in 2020: "This is the sister I never had," as he held Holly's hand after opening up about his sexuality.
However, Holly now joins a number of people who have said they have been "lied" to by Phil over the affair – including ITV themselves.
Former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes claimed he and wife Ruth Langsford were also lied to by Phil.
He wrote on Twitter last night: "Ruth and I deceived and lied to.
"One day I willl tell the story. We had no issue with him being Gay, only support. What transpired took us for fools. The man told us complete lies and we unfortunately believed him."
It comes after the former This Morning presenter announced he had quit ITV completely and was dropped from his talent agency YMU after he admitted an affair with a younger ITV colleague.
In a bombshell statement, which can be read here in full, Phillip admitted the affair but refused to name his former colleague, with whom he had a relationship with.
He also apologised for lying about the affair, which he said he did in an effort to "protect" his former colleague.
In a statement shared on Friday evening, Phillip said: "I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over."
Phillip insisted his recent departure from This Morning was "unrelated" but had "fuelled speculation and raised questions", which he says have been "impacting" his ex.
He added: "For his sake it is important for me to be honest now".
Meanwhile, Phillip's former agent YMU issued a scathing statement to confirm they had parted ways with the star after 35 years, with the agent now wiping Phil from their site.
"Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust," YMU stated.
"This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him.
"As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect."
ITV also commented on Phillip's departure, revealing they had accepted his resignation and said they were "deeply disappointed" by the former presenter's "deceit".
An ITV spokesperson said: "We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield.
"The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Philip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down.
"We accept his resignation from ITV and therefore can confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as had previously been stated."
The broadcaster later shared another statement, where ITV said they investigated claims of an affair between Phillip and the ITV employee – but they were 'lied' to.
The statement read: "Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.
"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
"Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."
