ITV talk show host Lorraine Kelly has spoken out publicly about Phillip Schofield's explosive exit from the channel back in May 2023.
After over two decades as the face of This Morning, Schofield left ITV for good after an "unwise but not illegal" relationship with a younger male runner on the show came to light.
Schofield admitted he kept the relationship hidden from bosses at ITV and co-host Willoughby, confessing to "lying" in an interview following his departure.
An inquiry into the saga confirmed in its findings that ITV was "unable to uncover" evidence of the affair at the time and that there was no evidence of a "toxic culture" at the show.
Just a few months later in October 2023, Willoughby then quit This Morning in order to spend time with family after a reported kidnap plot against her was foiled - she's since returned to screens alongside Stephen Mulhern on Dancing on Ice.
Kelly spent many a weekday morning speaking and working with Schofield and Willoughby and has now admitted she "misses" the pair following their respective departures.
This Morning with Holly and Phil: Lorraine Kelly appeared on the ITV show several times
SHUTTERSTOCK/ITV
In a new interview, Kelly said: "If you'd told me at the start of last year that Holly and Phil Schofield wouldn't be on This Morning, I wouldn't have believed you.
"But you know what? The show will continue," Kelly added before turning her attention to Willoughby specifically: "She'll be fine."
She then paid mention to Schofield as she added: "He'll be fine. Eventually. It will all be okay."
Touching on her personal opinions on the duo, she continued to Woman & Home: "They’re good people. I miss them.
Schofield and Willoughby saga: Holly and Phillip used to host Dancing on Ice together as well
PA"They’re smashing, they made me laugh a lot and every time I was on This Morning as a guest, they were a delight."
Since the pair quit This Morning, ITV has had a rotating roster of presenters stand in to present the show - sparking quite a divisive reaction from viewers.
With a permanent replacement yet to be announced, ITV recently tested the waters with Capital DJ Sian Welby alongside Dermot O'Leary.
The 37-year-old distracted several viewers due to her similarity in appearance to Willoughby, with a number of fans claiming ITV had hired a "clone".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Lorraine Kelly on Phillip Schofield: ITV host breaks silence on exit
ITV/SHUTTERSTOCK/GETTY
However, she did also garner plenty of support from This Morning viewers, with some calling for her spot to be made permanent.
On Instagram, Welby said as her stint came to a close: "What I didn’t get to say was thank-you to all of you who watched me cover and didn’t know who on earth I was, but still decided to give me a chance and even write a nice comment under a post.
"You don’t realise how much a kind gesture like that means or the positive impact it has so thank you."
Kelly continues to front her own talk show at 9am weekdays on ITV. Her full interview can be read in this week's Woman & Home.
