Phillip Schofield 'won't watch Holly Willoughby's return to This Morning' trends now

Phillip Schofield 'won't watch Holly Willoughby's return to This Morning' trends now
Phillip Schofield 'won't watch Holly Willoughby's return to This Morning' trends now

Phillip Schofield 'won't watch Holly Willoughby's return to This Morning' trends now

Phillip Schofield won't tune in to watch his former 'best friend' and co-host Holly Willoughby return to the This Morning sofa on Monday morning, it is claimed.

The 61-year-old, who was axed by bosses at ITV after revelations he had lied about an affair with male colleague who worked behind the scenes, is set to avoid it as it will be too devastating.

Friends of the TV presenter have said even watching the opening credits could prove 'hugely triggering' for him as he comes to terms with leaving the show he has fronted since 2002.

Even though she is not speaking to him anymore following the fallout of the scandal, Schofield does support Holly and wants her to 'shine and smash it', insiders told The Sun.

When she returns to the sofa in the morning, after taking a short break from the show, Holly is expected to make an 'honest personal statement' about the scandal. 

Phillip Schofield won't watch Holly Willoughby's return to the This Morning sofa on Monday after he was axed from the show. Pictured: The pair presenting the show in May

Phillip Schofield won't watch Holly Willoughby's return to the This Morning sofa on Monday after he was axed from the show. Pictured: The pair presenting the show in May

Big day: It comes as Holly prepares an 'honest and personal statement' to address the departure of her former co-star, who recently admitted he had lied about an affair with a younger male colleague, as she returns to the programme (pictured in Portugal this week)

Big day: It comes as Holly prepares an 'honest and personal statement' to address the departure of her former co-star, who recently admitted he had lied about an affair with a younger male colleague, as she returns to the programme (pictured in Portugal this week)

Phillip Schofield was pictured embracing his mother Pat in Newquay, Cornwall, moments after being told bosses at ITV wanted him to leave This Morning

Phillip Schofield was pictured embracing his mother Pat in Newquay, Cornwall, moments after being told bosses at ITV wanted him to leave This Morning 

But there will be no return in the morning for Schofield, who was seen with his mother on Friday, May 19, as he was told he was no longer wanted by ITV.

Instead Holly will appear with Jose Gibson as co-host, and it is believed she is still deliberating whether or not to mention Schofield by name - although the mother-of-three is 'determined to steer the show through these unprecedented times'.

The popular show has a loyal following, and despite being out of work, friends of Schofield say he won't be watching in the morning.

A friend of the father-of-two told The Sun: 'He physically could not watch - he's not there yet.

'Even listening to the opening credits would be hugely triggering.

'His family is being incredibly careful not to have the TV on when he's in the room to ensure he doesn't see anything.

'Of course he is aware Holly is back on air today and he absolutely wanted her to shine, and smash it.

'But he physically could not watch - he is not there yet.'

Meanwhile, another source said Holly was bracing to do 'one of the toughest things she has ever had to do in her television career' by addressing the scandal on Monday morning. 

'Holly is naturally nervous about this and is being supported by This Morning,' they said.

'Speaking about Phil and what has happened is not going to be easy and emotions are running high.

'The show is braced for tears and Holly is getting support from the team.

'Everyone is rooting for her and knows this is incredibly difficult.'

Schofield has been supported by his family since his sacking, with photos emerging showing the moment he embraced his elderly mother after he was sacked from the show.

He was seen hugging his mother Pat, 87, on a bench overlooking the sea in Newquay, Cornwall, last month. 

Schofield and his mother had driven from her home to their favourite fish and chip shop before heading out to Pentire Headland where they looked out over the sea.

The presenter, who had hosted This Morning since 2002, had been in the seaside town to support his mother as his brother, Timothy, was being sentenced for sex offences against a teenage boy.

The same day her youngest son was jailed for 12 years, Pat was told by her eldest child that he was losing his job. 

While getting fish and chips with his mother, Phillip received a phone call from his manager telling him bosses at the channel wanted him to leave the show.

In an interview with the Sun last week, he said: 'I had to go down to Cornwall to be with her for the sentencing.

The presenter, who had hosted This Morning since 2002, had been in the seaside town to support his mother as his brother, Timothy, was being sentenced for sex offences against a teenage boy

The presenter, who had hosted This Morning since 2002, had been in the seaside town to support his mother as his brother, Timothy, was being sentenced for sex offences against a teenage boy 

The TV presenter, who admitted to having an affair with a younger male colleague who worked behind the scenes on the show, was seen hugging his mother on Pentire Headland on May 19

The TV presenter, who admitted to having an affair with a younger male colleague who worked behind the scenes on the show, was seen hugging his mother on Pentire Headland on May 19

Phillip, pictured here on This Morning with former co-host Holly Willoughby, had presented the programme since 2002

Phillip, pictured here on This Morning with former co-host Holly Willoughby, had presented the programme since 2002

'And our family thing was always to buy fish and chips and go and sit on the headland.

'I picked my mum up and she went in to get the fish and chips — and while she was getting them, my phone rang.

'It was my then manager saying, 'Mate, I am so sorry, it has become too loud for ITV. You will have to step down from This Morning'.

'And she arrived in the car. She said to me before I arrived, 'You're not coming down with any bad news are you?'.

'She sat in the car and she was all happy to see me, and then she said, 'Oh, your face has changed'.

I said, 'Let's go on to the headland'. And I had to tell her.'

The furore which has surrounded Schofield has threatened to engulf This Morning, with ITV getting set to introduce 'heavy vetting' of public callers to protect presenters from outbursts over the scandal.

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