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Phillip Schofield – latest: Holly Willoughby’s This Morning statement torn apart by David Baddiel

ITV presenter’s statement addressing the scandal surrounding her former co-host was ridiculed by some viewers for being ‘dramatic’

Ellie Harrison,Inga Parkel,Peony Hirwani
Wednesday 07 June 2023 16:48 BST
Holly Willoughby addresses Phillip Schofield controversy for the first time on This Morning

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Comedian David Baddiel has mocked Holly Willoughby’s statement about the Phillip Schofield saga on Twitter.

“When Holly Willoughby said ‘Firstly, are you OK?’ I genuinely thought she was talking to someone behind camera, before realising that of course she was talking to us,” he wrote on Twitter.

MP John Nicholson also mocked Willoughby’s opening statement from Monday’s episode of This Morning during a Culture, Media and Sport Committee taking place in Parliament on Tuesday (6 June).

The latest episode of the ITV daytime show opened with no mention of Schofield, in stark contrast to yesterday’s broadcast, which saw Willoughby give an emotional statement addressing the scandal surrounding her former co-host.

Schofield, 61, gave an interview to the BBC last week, where he described the impact of the media onslaught since he admitted to having a relationship with a much younger This Morning employee while he was still married.

Stars including Piers Morgan, Jeremy Clarkson and Rupert Everett have all questioned the intensity of the backlash against Schofield. Writing in his column over the weekend, former Top Gear star Clarkson said he was “baffled” by the uproar.

Comedian David Baddiel mocks Holly Willoughby’s opening statement from Monday’s episode of This Morning

Comedian David Baddiel has mocked Holly Willoughby’s statement about the Phillip Schofield saga.

On Monday (5 June), Willoughby addressed the scandal by giving a short speech, asking viewers: “Firstly, are you okay? I hope so.”

Soon after the episode aired, Baddiel took to Twitter, writing: “When Holly Willoughby said ‘Firstly, are you OK?’ I genuinely thought she was talking to someone behind camera, before realising that of course she was talking to us, the great British deeply-traumatised by everything’s that happened on an ITV morning show public.”

On the next day, the comedian continued joking about Willoughby’s statement, tweeting: “Going to start every day with [Firstly, are you ok?] from now on.”

He added: “The good thing about this is that all your replies about your lives are very nice and interesting. Maybe Holly was on to something.

“Sorry, that was an idiotic thing to say. I meant - deep breath - are *you* ok?”

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 11:03

From Piers Morgan to Eamonn Holmes: Celebrities who weighed in on Phillip Schofield’s This Morning and ITV exit

The celebrities who have weighed in on Phillip Schofield’s This Morning and ITV exit

Schofield has said his ‘career is over’ after he admitted to having an affair with a much younger colleague and repeatedly lying about it

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 15:30

A timeline of the Phillip Schofield controversy

A timeline of the Phillip Schofield controversy
Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 15:00

Comment: My boss said he’d sack me if I didn’t flirt – I bet Schofield and Clarkson never had to deal with that

Don’t dismiss the Phillip Schofield scandal as a ‘workplace affair’. It’s more than that, especially when you’re in it like I was, writes Allegra Chapman.

Opinion: My boss said he’d sack me if I didn’t flirt

Don’t dismiss the Phillip Schofield scandal as a ‘workplace affair’. It’s more than that, especially when you’re in it like I was, writes Allegra Chapman

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 14:30

Holly Willoughby has awkward on-air moment with Ruth Langsford after Eamonn Holmes’s This Morning criticism

Watch the moment Holly Willoughby had an awkward on-air encounter with Ruth Langsford.

Holly Willoughby has awkward on-air moment with Ruth Langsford

Watch the moment Holly Willoughby had an awkward on-air encounter with Ruth Langsford, whose husband has been outwardly critical of Ms Willoughby following. During This Morning, Ms Willoughby had to hand over to Ms Langsford to preview her show Loose Woman, with both smiling through the palpable tension. Eamonn Holmes has branded Ms Willoughby a "big mouth" and even called her to be sacked after it became public knowledge that Philip Schofield lied about an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague. Meanwhile, Holly Willoughby and Ruth Langsford continue to both work on ITV’s daytime flagship talkshows.

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 14:00

Watch: MP pokes fun at Holly Willoughby’s statement on Phillip Schofield

MP pokes fun at Holly Willoughby's statement on Phillip Schofield
Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 13:30

Piers Morgan defends ‘good friend’ Holly Willoughby after ‘patronising’ Phillip Schofield speech

Piers Morgan has defended Holly Willoughby from criticism following her divisive Phillip Schofield speech.

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 12:30

Amanda Holden mocks Holly Willoughby’s ‘Are you OK?’ This Morning statement

Amanda Holden has brutally mocked Holly Willoughby’s statement made on This Morning on Monday (5 June) after she presented the show alone for the first time since Philip Schofield’s exit.

Read more:

Amanda Holden mocks Holly Willoughby’s ‘Are you OK?’ This Morning statement

Willoughby’s remark on Monday’s show has been subject to criticism online

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 12:00

Craig Doyle praises ‘wonderful’ Holly Willoughby as he replaces Phillip Schofield on This Morning

Craig Doyle praised “wonderful” Holly Willoughby as he stepped in to replace Phillip Schofield on This Morning.

The presenter co-hosted the ITV daytime series alongside Willoughby on Wednesday (7 June).

Read more:

Craig Doyle praises ‘wonderful’ Holly Willoughby as he replaces Phillip Schofield

Presenter defended ITV series from ‘toxic workplace’ allegations

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 11:30

Vanessa Feltz accuses ex-This Morning stars of having ‘grudge’ against ITV show

Vanessa Feltz has accused former This Morning stars of having a grudge against the show while staunchly defending broadcaster ITV.

On Tuesday (6 June), Feltz addressed the response, telling her TalkTV viewers: “It has been suggested that quite a lot of the people who are very vocally critical of This Morning and, actually, it’s a handful of people – there are some celebrities, a couple of journalists – and what’s been suggested is quite a lot of them were once on the programme and aren’t on it anymore.”

She added: “And that is the reason for this aggrieved, kind of grudging malice that is coming out. And if you ask people who are still on the programme and who are on it regularly – who enjoy being on it – they won’t know what they’re talking about.”

Read more:

Vanessa Feltz questions This Morning ‘toxicity’ claims in staunch defence of ITV

‘I can’t really see it happening,’ Feltz said of ‘toxic’ allegations against daytime series

Peony Hirwani7 June 2023 10:49

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