This Morning phone-ins to be heavily vetted to stop viewers wading in on Phillip Schofield scandal
THIS Morning producers will diligently screen phone calls into tomorrow’s show to stop viewers wading into the Phillip Schofield affair scandal.
Social media posts and all interactive elements of the programme are also being put on hold to avoid the risk of any abuse being targeted at the presenters.
The move comes as Holly Willoughby, 42, returns to the programme after a two week absence and will address the fallout head on.
We exclusively revealed overnight how a TV source said she the host has personally prepared a statement because she wants to tell viewers how difficult it has been for everyone behind the scenes on the show.
Her former pal, 61, came clean about his affair with a much younger ITV runner and in doing so sparked major questions over the show’s future.
Holly took a week off when Phillip initially announced he was leaving the hit daytime programme, before then jetting to Portugal with her sister, parents and family for another week.
Colleagues are said to be sympathetic towards Holly and will try to make her return to work as smooth as possible.
A TV source said: “Holly wants to address Phillip’s recent admissions about his affair.
“She will be honest and open, mentioning him by name. She’s not shying away from the tricky subject as she wants to show up for the viewers and loyal fans.
“Even though Holly has been on holiday with her family, she has been thinking about it a lot and tried to process the dramatic turn of events.
“She has thought about what she will say and written it in advance, taking her time to get the words right. It’s not something she’s being forced to do.
“It won’t be an easy moment for her, and she knows she could get emotional, but she thinks it’s the right thing to do and wants to speak about it in an honest way.
“It will happen at the very beginning of Monday’s show.
“Holly was really upset to hear that Phil was feeling suicidal amid the backlash since the scandal and doesn’t want him to be in any pain, so she will choose her words carefully and deliver them in a sensitive manner.”
Holly will be joined on the sofa on Monday by co-host Josie Gibson.
After her speech she will then focus on light entertainment topics.
She will interview Queen singer Adam Lambert to celebrate Pride month and the LGBT community.
Staff have removed pictures of Phillip from the ITV corridors to signify a new era — but not as a snub to him, it is claimed.
Phillip told The Sun Holly did not know about his affair.
He said: “I’ve lost my best friend. Holly did not know. And she was one of the first texts that I sent to say ‘I am so, so sorry, that I lied to you.’”
A source said: “Everyone feels sympathetic to Holly and there will definitely be a few nerves on set on Monday morning.
“Everyone is anxious for her return to the show to go well, but crew will do their best to make her welcome.
“Holly is clearly feeling anxious about things, but at the same time she’s determined to address it.”