After defending her This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby earlier this week, Vanessa Feltz issued one concerned viewer some advice on being disowned by friends during Thursday’s instalment of the daytime show (June 15). More speculation about Holly’s relationship with her colleagues has been thrust into the headlines this week after former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes.
Alison Hammond is said to be upset that Eamonn has been making allegations about her friendship with Holly, after the GB News star made a series of claims about Phillip Schofield following his departure from This Morning. Whilst Phil’s “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger colleague at ITV has, arguably, taken the limelight, a lot of attention was drawn to the demise of the friendship he once shared with Holly.
Holly and Phil were once the best of friends, entertaining viewers across the nation with their post-awards ceremony antics. But things are said to have “cooled” after Phil took some pre-planned leave away from the show in April, as his younger brother, Timothy Schofield, appeared in court over a string of sex offences involving a minor.
Read more: This Morning fans praise 'winning combination' of Holly Willoughby and Dermot O'Leary
Eamonn made a savage dig at Holly recently, accusing the mum-of-three of “faking” her friendship with former Big Brother star Alison Hammond in a bid to win over viewers. Eamonn, who used to present This Morning with his wife, Ruth Langsford, said that it was “disgusting” that Holly was “using” Alison, claiming that their friendship “wouldn’t have happened 13 years ago”.
In an interview with OK! Magazine earlier this week, Vanessa gave her thoughts on Phil’s dramatic departure from This Morning and affair admission, confessing that she was “absolutely devastated” for everyone involved in the chaos. The broadcaster, who frequently appears on the long-running magazine show as an agony aunt, praised Holly for being “beautiful” and “sweet” as she dismissed the claims of “toxicity” made by Dr Ranj Singh and Eamonn.
“I’ve always been good friends with Holly and Phil, I’ve been on that show for years and years,” Vanessa said. “I just feel very sorry for anybody who’s been hurt or implicated in what’s happened. I hope the show will continue.”
During the Thursday edition of This Morning, Vanessa encouraged one viewer to fight for their friendship after being “disowned” by their pals. “I've been friends with a group of friends for quite a long time and I've actually said no for the first time to plans and now since then they've not spoken to me,” the viewer told Vanessa.
“They normally call and normally text but they've disowned me.”
Offering advice and sympathy, Vanessa replied: “Oh! That does sound really odd - maybe they felt rejected, you can never quite tell how someone will interpret something you do in a nice way with no ill will at all.
“They may take it as a knockback and a slap in the face. You've been friendly with them for ages. If I was you, I would give them a bell and say 'I didn't want to come that time but I certainly want to come next time' and invite them round for an evening in the sunshine.
“But don't allow this to fester and become a big thing.”
Holly then chimed in: “So, keep it light.”
“Friendships are so precious,” Vanessa added, as Holly agreed with her. “When we lose friends throughout our life, sometimes we look back and wish we hadn't.
“So don't let that happen.”
Holly asked if the viewer felt as if she could “reach out” to her friends “one more time”, to which the caller replied: “Only the once, I can’t do it after this.”
Following her return to the This Morning studio last week, Holly was joined by Dermot O’Leary on the sofa from Monday to Thursday this week. Dermot is returning to the show today to present alongside Alison.
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