This Morning to 'heavily vet' viewer calls as Holly Willoughby returns to ITV

This Morning bosses are reportedly planning to ‘heavily vet’ viewer phone calls to the show when Holly Willoughby returns on Monday.

Holly will be back on daytime TV after a two-week break following former co-presenter Phillip Schofield’s affair scandal.

The Mirror’s exclusive photos show the 42-year-old has been soaking up the sun in Portugal with TV producer husband Dan Baldwin, 48, and their three kids, Harry, 13, Belle, 11, and seven-year-old Chester.

But normal service at This Morning is set to resume on June 5 – with Josie Gibson replacing Phillip as Holly’s new sidekick.

However, production staff on the ITV show are reportedly poised to screen callers to avoid any abuse being directed at any of the This Morning presenters.

Holly Willoughby, Josie Gibson

Interaction segments where viewers send in pictures and social media posts are also being paused for the same reason, The Sun reports.

It comes after former host Phillip Schofield admitted having an affair with a younger male colleague while he was still married.

He has since quit working for the ITV channel so will no longer appear on This Morning, Dancing on Ice or The Cube and has been dropped by his agents.

But after days of silence, Holly is finally set to address the scandal when she returns to screens on Monday.

An ‘honest statement’ mentioning Phillip by name is set to be delivered by Holly when she opens the show.

A TV source told The Sun : “Holly wants to address Phillip’s recent admissions about his affair.

“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.

“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.”

Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby

The insider added 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.

The Mirror has contacted ITV for further comment on this story.

Speaking in two new emotional interviews, Phillip said he texted Holly at the time that the scandal broke but he has received no reply.

Before news of his affair broke, the pair had been best pals who worked together for 17 years and even enjoyed holidays together.

The only statement Holly has given up until this point is a short message on her Instagram stories.

She told her 8.3 million followers she was ‘hurt’ Phillip hadn’t been honest with her about his affair with a man in his early 20s who worked on the show when he was in his 50s.

It said: “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 that this was a lie. Holly.”

Although she is reprising her presenting role on This Morning, The Mirror exclusively revealed over the weekend that Holly is in talks to join the BBC.

A source said: “Holly has had a good relationship and an open dialogue with BBC bosses since she hosted Freeze the Fear.

“Ever since then they have been keen to sign her up for another project and have bent over backwards to offer her other opportunities.

“So the ongoing drama at ITV has played into their hands.

“The bosses have had conversations this week about what they could offer her going forward. And one executive reached out to her directly earlier in the week.”

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