Last week, Phillip Schofield spoke out for the first time about his affair with a much younger colleague, and apologised to his former lover and to his ex co-host and friend Holly Willoughby. He went on to deny grooming the unnamed colleague and revealed that he was “utterly broken and ashamed”.
As Closer went to press, Holly – who was last week pictured in Portugal on holiday with her family – had not commented on the interview.
Just eight months ago, Phillip and Holly supported each other as best friends while the drama of “queue gate” unravelled – the accusations against the co-stars leading to over 75,000 fans signing a petition to get them booted off This Morning. And while the TV stars were able to turn that public outrage around, the duo have now been plunged into their biggest scandal to date after Phil’s affair was revealed earlier this month.
In the wake of the news, Phillip, 61, immediately resigned from all his ITV shows, with Holly, 42, forced to deliver a statement the following day, in which she denied having any knowledge of Phil’s consensual relationship. Holly – who has co-hosted with Phil for 14 years, with the two holidaying with each other’s families – wrote on Instagram, “It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news. 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.”
However, fans have continued to question how much Holly knew, with one fan saying, “She definitely knew – they were absolute besties. This is all now about distancing herself and protecting her brand”. Eamonn Holmes then blasted both Phil and Holly, claiming that he “could give you a list of the lack of kindness and lack of awareness from both of them”, with a former director at ITV also calling Holly “damaged goods”.
Now, with her career hanging in the balance, a source reveals how a devastated Holly has been surrounding herself with family and friends as she struggles to face the public storm. They say, “Holly’s understandably been in a state of complete turmoil – going from shock and disbelief at how this has all unfolded, to panic and fear over her future and a deep sadness at how everything has transpired. She’s been struggling to come to terms with everything.”
Following Phil’s departure, Holly took an early holiday to focus on her family and her three children with Dan Baldwin – Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and eight-year-old Chester. A source told Closer last week how Holly’s been left “completely crushed” and is failing to turn a blind eye to the reports that are constantly emerging.
A source says, “Dan and her friends have urged her not to watch the news or read the papers, but it’s hard to avoid it given the media storm that’s erupted. As every new revelation and betrayal emerges, it sends her into an even deeper spiral of panic and gloom. It’s been devastating to see people throw her into the fire and hurl such damning accusations at her when she can’t defend herself, and she has so many unanswered questions for ITV bosses.”
However, Holly – who’s previously revealed she turns to spiritual practices like meditation to ease stress – has found a safe haven in her celeb pals, who the source says have crowded around her to offer their support.
The insider says, “Dan, the rest of her family and her friends have all been rallying round to support her, which is so therapeutic as she knows she can say anything and trusts them all implicitly. They’re trying to offer her comfort in whatever way they can and just be there in such a dark time. She knows she has a big support network, despite the public and some celebrities turning against her.”
Holly is also believed to have been in touch with Phil’s wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe, with whom he shares two daughters – Molly, 30, and Ruby, 27. Although both Holly and Stephanie provided unwavering support for Phil when he came out as gay in 2020, the affair is reported to have taken place while they were still living together as a married couple.
The source says, “Holly and Steph have been speaking on the phone and texting back and forth too. They’ve always been extremely close and Holly wanted to reach out as soon as the affair story emerged.”
But the source says that while Phil has reached out, Holly can’t bring herself to face him after all of the damage he has caused.
The insider adds, “Holly’s refusing to answer any of Phil’s attempts to reach out. She’s told mutual friends to politely ask him not to communicate with her as they get on with their lives. She’s furious, hurt and feels a deep sense of betrayal from someone she thought was her best friend.
“For now, she’s leaning on her family and friends while she weighs up her future and figures out how she’s going to move forward – and save her career and reputation from falling apart.”