Holly Willoughby has broken her silence following Phillip Schofield’s departure from ITV, which comes after he admitted to having an affair with a This Morning co-worker.

On Friday, Phillip released a statement to Daily mailin which he said he had previously been in a “consensual relationship with a younger male colleague”, which he said was “unwise, but not illegal”.

The news that he will be leaving ITV completely after his admission comes just a week after he announced it left This Morning after 21 years, the reason he claimed was “not related” to his affair

Now, Holly – who is currently taking a break from the daytime show – has spoken out about the recent developments in a statement. via her Instagram Stories read:

“It takes time to process yesterday’s news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told no. It’s heartbreaking to find out now that this was a lie. Holly.”

ITV previously confirmed that Holly will be returning to This Morning on Monday, June 5, where she will be joining the other members of the group online.

Phillip left the show last Saturday “with immediate effect” following growing reports of a rift between him and Holly – which he had previously issued a statement denying.

Holly and Phillip have hosted the ITV daytime show together since 2009 – first paired up on Dancing On Ice in 2006 – Phillip initially joined the presenting team in 2002.

After Phillip left the show last week, Holly posted a short statement on Instagram in which she thanked him for “his knowledge, experience and humour,” adding: “The chair The sofa wouldn’t be the same without him.”

Phillip said his departure from the show has “promoted speculation and raised questions” about previous hints about a relationship between him and a former co-worker on the show, saying it’s important now “I have to be honest”.

Talk to Daily mailPhillip said: “I am making this statement through the Daily Mail, to whom I have personally apologized for misleading, through my attorney, with whom I have also cheated, about a story that they wanted to write about me a few days ago.

“The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for lying to them and many others about the relationship I had with someone who worked on This Morning.”

He confirmed: “I was in a consensual relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, while I met that man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him get into television, it was only after he started working on the show. process, it becomes more friendship than friendship.

“That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. Now it’s over. “

Phillip then emphasized that when he came out as gay in February 2020he “does so solely for my own benefit” and is not “forced” to do so.

He said: “In an attempt to protect my former colleague, I was not honest about the relationship. “But my departure from This Morning, unrelated, has recently sparked speculation and raised questions that are impacting him, so for his sake it is important that I to be honest now.

“I am painfully aware that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agent, to the media and therefore to the public and most importantly to the public. is with my family. I’m very, very sorry, for being unfaithful to my wife.

“I have therefore decided to give up the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and I resign from ITV immediately to express my immense gratitude to them for all their What a wonderful opportunity they have given me.

“I would think about my very bad judgment of getting into the relationship and then lie about it.”

He also urged the media to respect the privacy of his former colleague, who did not want to be named.

Phillip’s statement was released shortly after it was revealed that he had parted ways with his management company, YMU, after 25 years.

YMU CEO Mary Bekhait said: “Honesty and integrity are core values ​​for YMU’s entire business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.

“This week, we learned important new information about our customer Phillip
School. These facts contradict what Phillip has previously said to YMU, as well as the outside advisors we have brought in to assist him. As a result, on Thursday, we agreed to part ways with Phillip, effective immediately.”