Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Emma Wilson

'Crushed' Holly Willoughby is 'emotional wreck and worried about family' after Phil backlash

Holly Willoughby is reportedly an “emotional wreck” and worried for her family over the intense Phillip Schofield backlash.

The 42-year-old has been at the centre of a growing scandal surrounding This Morning and disgraced co-host Phil, who has recently admitted to having an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young production assistant.

Rumours of a “toxic” atmosphere on the set of the popular ITV daytime show have also been swirling since Phil stepped down from presenting duties and made the shock admission he had been in a relationship with the young man who worked on the show.

Eamonn Holmes, who previously presented This Morning with wife Ruth Langsford but left in 2021, has also claimed the TV show staged a “cover-up” to protect the popular hosts, and said both Holly and Phil were “uncaring” towards other staff members.

Holly has been laying low after becoming a target in the outrageous This Morning scandal (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She was said to be devastated over Phil's betrayal (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Holly has been laying low since the scandal unfolded last week, and released a short statement on social media over the weekend, in which she said Phil’s lies had been “hurtful”.

According to Closer, the mum-of-three, who shares 13-year-old Harry, 11-year-old Belle and seven-year-old Chester with husband Dan Baldwin, is “completely crushed” and is an “emotional wreck” as she struggles to make a decision about her future on This Morning.

Holly and Phil's reign over daytime TV is sadly over (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“She was already devastated from the fallout with Phil and how everything transpired, so to now have the negative spotlight turned around on her is doubly heartbreaking, not to mention for her kids too,” a source told the magazine.

“Holly’s children and older now and are at an age where they read things online and fully understand what’s going on,” they added.

Holly is reportedly ready to “pull the plug” on her career on the show “if it means protecting her family”.

The former co-hosts and friends are now at loggerheads (ITV)
The mum-of-three is reportedly considering leaving the show (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The presenter is fearful her kids are "hearing things at school about their mum and being questioned by friends" which is upsetting for the youngsters.

"And for Holly, that’s where the line is drawn,” the source explained.

The Mirror has approached Holly’s rep for comment.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.