This Morning presenters address Holly Willoughby exit as she quits for good after 14 years
The This Morning presenters have addressed Holly Willoughby's exit from the show.
The 42-year-old announced she had left the ITV daytime programme yesterday (10 October).
Willoughby joined the show as Phillip Schofield's co-host in 2009.
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She had recently been absent from This Morning with a man charged with soliciting to commit murder over an alleged plot to kidnap her.
Announcing her, seemingly sudden, exit, Willoughby wrote in a post shared to Instagram: "I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.
"To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much.
"This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.
"Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You've been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day.
"Richard and Judy said 'we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers'.
"It's been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.
"I will miss you all so much. Holly."
At the end of today's opening credits, a huge picture of Willoughby's face appeared with the text: "GOODBYE HOLLY."
Rochelle Humes and Craig Doyle are presenting This Morning today and began with a tribute to the ex presenter.
They sent 'our love, best wishes and respect to our Holly'.
Doyle added that they know it will have been a 'heartbreaking' decision for the star with Humes adding: “Holly loved her job here and was really looking forward to the future of the show."
She also said 'recent events, especially in the last week' have been 'hard to deal with' and that Willoughby is ‘quite rightly putting family first’.
Doyle continued: "We loved working with Holly... We’re all really sad and we’re all really gonna miss her."
Insiders close to Willoughby said the kidnap plot impacted her decision to leave, but claim it wasn’t the sole reason.
A source told The Sun: “There have been a lot of tears over the past few days. Holly spoke with her children and then with her husband Dan and her parents at length.
“She absolutely loves This Morning and has devoted herself to the show. But recent events have changed everything and Holly has to put her family first.
“Holly personally told This Morning boss Martin Frizell and ITV Daytime’s managing director Emma Gormley. Both conversations were very emotional.
“They obviously wanted her to stay, but said they would completely support her decision.
“ITV have been looking after Holly and have provided a support package to her as well as the offer of counselling if she needs it.”
Topics: ITV, Holly Willoughby, This Morning, TV and Film
Jess Battison