HOLLY Willoughby will address the Phillip Schofield scandal “honestly and openly” on Monday as she returns to presenting duties on This Morning.
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.
She has been absent from the set for the past two weeks — during which time her former pal, 61, has come clean about his affair with a much younger ITV runner.
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.
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“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.
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“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.
In another move, phone-ins involving the public will be heavily vetted by production staff to filter out any attempted viewer outbursts over the scandal.
And interaction segments where viewers send in pictures and social media posts are being paused to avoid the risk of any abuse being targeted at the presenters.
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.”
Later in the week, Holly will be joined by Irish presenter Craig Doyle, while Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will be back for their usual slot on Friday.
Holly is now said to be thinking about the future of This Morning — and is keen to move into a new era for the flagship daytime show.
It comes as the Sun on Sunday revealed last week that former show contributor Dr Ranj Singh complained to bosses of bullying and a toxic atmosphere on set.
On Friday, former This Morning head of news Emily Maddick claimed she quit after two months over “bullying, sexism and a toxic culture of fear and intimidation” on the show.
An insider said: “Phillip’s departure was unexpected and a shock for everyone on the series.
“But Holly knows change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. She wants to put her best foot forward and help be a part of the shift backstage, where everyone is happy.
“Obviously, the reports of on-set toxicity have been upsetting to hear and Holly hopes this is the start of new era for the show and that they can pull together.
“Producers are hopeful Holly will now steer the ship towards calmer waters for the next six weeks before her summer break.”
Our source said when Holly is off for the summer, “bigger decisions will be made about a rebrand of the show, with new credits and a soundtrack to signify the new era — and distance itself from Phil’s reign”.
Last week, Phillip said he texted Holly as the affair story broke, writing: “I know you can’t reply, you’re probably not allowed, but please know I’m desperately sorry.”
Our source said Holly has still not made contact with Phillip, but is saddened that he has been suffering with his mental health.
They added: “Holly hasn’t engaged with Phil, but is upset he has been feeling so low.”
Holly has not commented since taking to social media last weekend to reveal Phillip had lied to her about his affair.
She wrote last Saturday: “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 this was a lie.”
On Friday’s This Morning, Alison broke down in tears as she discussed The Sun’s exclusive interview with Phillip, in which he spoke of feeling suicidal.
She said she feared he could only take so much.
Alison, who has worked on the show with Phillip for more than two decades, was struggling when it came to the newspaper review.
For days, This Morning had ignored the fall-out of Phillip’s admission about his affair, despite the story being splashed across The Sun’s front pages.
But on Friday, presenters took time to discuss his exclusive interview with The Sun.
Alison appeared alongside co-presenter Dermot when she admitted she was finding the scandal difficult to process.
Dermot told viewers: “It’s very difficult for us to cover this story because he’s a friend and a colleague.”
Tearful Alison continued: “I’m just finding it really painful because obviously I loved Phillip Schofield and it’s weird because I still love Phillip Schofield.
“However what he has done is wrong. He’s admitted it. He’s said sorry but, as a family, we’re all really struggling to process.”
She later admitted she feared for Phillip’s mental health, adding: “There is so much a man can take isn’t there? I don’t want any death in this situation.”
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Alison and Dermot had not spoken publicly at length about Phillip’s exit before Friday’s segment.
The Sun on Sunday has contacted This Morning and Holly for comment.
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