This Morning viewers moved to tears as Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby hug through plastic sheet

So-called ‘cuddle curtain’ was designed to circumvent social distancing criteria

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby had This Morning viewers in tears as they performed a coronavirus-proof embrace on the ITV chat show.

In order to stage the hug, the pair used a comically large plastic sheet to prevent the transference of germs.

Schofield and Willoughby were returning to This Morning after a seven-week absence, in which the presenters enjoyed a summer break.

In the interim, the programme had been hosted by Ruth Langford and Eamonn Holmes.

ITV viewers reacted to the embrace on social media, with many finding the reunion to be a touching moment.

(ITV (ITV)

“I’m watching on plus one but I legit cried watching Holly and Phil hug each other,” wrote one Twitter user.

Another wrote: “Phil and Holly hugging. We needed that as much as they did. Should start every show like that. Make us all feel good.”

“Why am I feeling quite emotional looking at Phil and Holly hugging with the #CuddleCurtain?” asked someone else.

“It has to be hard for people so close to be around but not be able to hug each other. Every family needs a cuddle curtain.”

This Morning airs Monday to Friday on ITV.