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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Maisie Lillywhite

This Morning's Josie Gibson branded 'star of the show' by Eamonn Holmes following Holly Willoughby's return

Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes has branded Josie Gibson "the star of the show" following Holly Willoughby's return to the flagship programme on Monday morning (June 5). After a few weeks away from This Morning, Holly was joined by Josie as she read out a pre-planned speech to viewers, in which she shared that she felt "shaken, troubled, let down and worried" following Phillip Schofield's exit from the show.

Eamonn, who left This Morning in late 2020, has been very vocal about Holly, Phil and the show he used to be a big part of since the scandal unfolded last month. During his GB News show with Isabel Webster today, Eamonn shared the news that ITV's group director of strategy, policy and regulation, Magnus Brooke would be answering questions from MPs during the Culture, Media and Sport Committee meeting as they collected evidence to scrutinise the Government's Draft Media Bill.

"The Schofield scandal could overshadow the session, of course, and the line of questioning could easily turn towards who knew what and when at This Morning?" he quipped.

Read more: This Morning: Fan favourite Josie Gibson could save ITV show from axe after reassuring a 'shaken' Holly

Following on from Holly's return to This Morning yesterday, Eamonn once again gave his two pence on the matter, this time singing the praises of Bristolian presenter Josie Gibson, who comforted Holly as she read her statement. During his Tuesday Breakfast show with Isabel, Eamonn said: "The star of the show yesterday, for me, was Josie Gibson.

"It's lovely to hear a West Country accent, isn't it?"

Eamonn Holmes was full of praise for Josie (GB News)

Isabel agreed with her co-star, commenting: "Absolutely, so warm and there aren't enough West County accents on the TV."

This Morning viewers were left cringing yesterday as Holly was forced to speak to Eamonn's wife Ruth Langsford via video link as she teased what was coming up on Loose Women. As Holly sat with Josie and Queen singer Adam Lambert, she greeted Ruth.

"Let's find out what Loose Women are talking about today," she said. "Hi there, Ruth!"

In a seemingly normal interaction, Ruth replied, "Yeah, we love Adam Lambert, too!", as she blew him kisses. Their interaction comes in the wake of Eamonn's constant criticism of Holly and Phil after the latter stood down from This Morning and confessed to having an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a much younger ITV colleague, who he first met when the unnamed man was still a schoolboy.

Eamonn recently suggested Holly should follow Phillip "out the door" of This Morning (Ian West/PA Wire)

Phil has made it clear that, although he was just 15 when they first met, they only engaged in sexual activity when the man was around the age of 20/21. Eamonn has not only criticised Holly and Phil but This Morning's toxic culture as he accused the former best friends of "using" people, claiming Holly should have quit the show, too.

Shortly before Holly returned to This Morning, Eamonn issued a plea to viewers, calling on "anyone watching today who has kissed Phillip Schofield, let us know". Eamonn also accused the pair of being actors, launching an attack on Holly after she claimed to be "sad" following Phil's exit from the show.

"Well, she wanted him not there, so what is she moaning about?" he questioned on GB News. "Holly is being as false as he is and nobody is talking about the elephant in the room."

"'Oh, the couch will not be the same without him being there'," Eamonn continued, mimicking his former co-star. "They deserve each other.

"She says: 'I thank him for all his knowledge, experience and humour.' All the things that she didn’t have when she came to the show. Well, it’s true. I would call that stabbing in the back. I could give you a list of the lack of kindness and lack of awareness from both of them."

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