Josie Gibson was absent from This Morning on Wednesday as Craig Doyle stood in to co-host the show alongside Holly Willoughby.
The TV personality, 38, has been tasked with the biggest challenge in This Morning’s 35-year history – to replace Phillip Schofield and sit alongside Holly as her co-presenter.
The ITV show has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after it was revealed that Schofield lied about having an affair with a younger colleague.
However, Craig and Holly were all smiles as they kicked the ITV show off by wishing students good luck on their exams.
Josie informed her Instagram followers she would be taking a day off on Wednesday, while gushing over pal Holly.
Shake-up: Josie Gibson was absent from This Morning on Wednesday as Craig Doyle stood in to co-host the show alongside Holly Willoughby
Tough: The TV personality, 38, has been tasked with the biggest challenge in This Morning’s 35-year history – to replace Phillip Schofield and sit alongside Holly as her co-presenter
She wrote on Instagram: ‘Thank you to this legend and her infectious energy!!! @hollywilloughby you are such a fabulous broadcaster…loved our last two days together.
‘Passing the baton onto @craigadoyle I will be out in the sunshine bringing you an incredible competition from a canal boat. Don’t miss us tomorrow from 10am on @thismorning’
Josie’s down-to-earth demeanour immediately made her a favourite with the viewers and she has since covered occasionally for Holly,
Insiders say the fact that former Big Brother winner Ms Gibson is open and ‘ordinary’ means ITV bosses ‘adore her’, while those watching at home find her relatable.
Holly is reportedly determined to fight on to keep her spot on the sofa , despite the chaos at the programme.
She is paid £730,000 a year for the presenting gig but has a growing business empire, estimated to be worth £10million.
Holly told This Morning’s viewers yesterday ‘we gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth’ as she returned to the show for the first time since Phillip’s exit.
Phillip left the show after admitting to an affair – which he branded ‘ill-advised by not illegal.
In an interview last week, he said Holly – who was not aware of the affair – was ignoring his messages apologising and pleading for forgiveness.
Sweet: Josie informed her Instagram followers she would be taking a day off on Wednesday, while gushing over pal Holly
She wrote on Instagram: ‘Thank you to this legend and her infectious energy!!! @hollywilloughby you are such a fabulous broadcaster…loved our last two days together’
In her full statement, Holly said: ‘Hi there. Good morning. Josie [Gibson], thank you for being here. Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil.
‘And I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have – shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s been going on, and full of questions.
‘You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV, and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.
‘And it’s equally hard to see the toll that it’s taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone.
‘I hope that, as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.
‘And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie [Gibson], Dermot [O’Leary], Alison [Hammond], Craig [Doyle], and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you this show that we love.’
Prior to the show airing, friends of Phillip said he would not tune in to watch Holly’s return to the sofa as it would be too ‘triggering’ for him.
In an interview with The Sun, he apologised to Holly for lying to her about his relationship, saying: ‘I’ve lost my best friend.’
Hurt: Holly’s return comes as the ITV show has been plagued by allegations of ‘toxicity’, including from former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes who has alleged there was a ‘total cover-up’ over the Schofield affair
Drama: Holly is determined to fight on to keep her spot on the sofa, despite the ongoing chaos at the programme caused by Phillip’s revelations
He added: ‘I let her down. I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down. Holly did not know and she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say: “I am so, so sorry that I lied to you”.
‘She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply as well. So, yeah, if anyone is in any way linking Holly to this, that is absolutely, wholly untrue.’
The duo, had presented the show together since 2009 and also co-hosted Dancing On Ice.
Holly’s return comes as the ITV show has been plagued by allegations of ‘toxicity’, including from former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes who has alleged there was a ‘total cover-up’ over the Schofield affair.
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