HOLLY Willoughby will have two presenting partners on This Morning next week.
The TV star returns to the programme on Monday after a two week holiday amid ex co-star Phillip Schofield’s sacking for a secret affair with a younger male colleague.
Josie Gibson AND Craig Doyle will partner Holly Willoughby next week
Holly and Phil are no longer pals
On Friday ITV announced that Josie Gibson, 38, has been chosen to front Monday’s show with Holly, 42, in an all-female partnership.
But we can now exclusively reveal that Josie will also present on Tuesday before Irishman Craig Doyle, 52, will takeover for Wednesday and Thursday’s programmes.
Craig has become a favourite to permanently replace Phillip after impressing during his stand-in appearances in recent weeks.
An insider said: “Josie’s bubbly personality is just what the show needs to bounce back from a nightmare few weeks.
“She’s larger than life and will ease the pressure on Holly, who viewers will be glued to after the loss of her long time telly partner.
“Craig has also been lined up and it’s a sign that the permanent role is his for the taking.
“Viewers have taken to him straight away and, not only is he easy on the eye, but he’s a natural in front of camera.”
Yesterday Phillip revealed the text he sent Holly begging for forgiveness – but she hasn’t replied.
Emotional Schofield told The Celeb Report he’s lost his “best friend” after lying to his This Morning co-star about his secret relationship with a much-younger male employee.
In an interview with The Celeb Report, he says the pair have broken all contact — and reveals it was his paedophile brother’s imprisonment that made her distance herself from the friendship.
He says: “I’ve lost my best friend. I let her down (Holly). I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down.
“Holly did not know (about the romance). 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.
“I had no feud with Holly. She is my TV sister. But quite rightly, when I am in the middle of a s**t show with bad press over something where I have done nothing wrong — in fact, I did everything right — it’s a witch hunt. And that strips that (friendship) away.
“Quite rightly, she is going to take a step back and think, ‘I have to step back from this’, and I understand that completely.
“As we see now, this is a vicious game and the last thing you want is for something to stick on you.
“It was becoming bigger than the people we had on the show. I understand that.”
Speaking to the BBC, he added: “I know you can’t reply, you’re probably not allowed, but please know I’m desperately sorry.”
Holly shared an emotional statement when Phillip announced his departure from the show.
She penned: “Hi everyone, it’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.
“The sofa won’t feel the same without him,” followed by a love heart.
ITV boss Carolyn McCall has been called to face MPs amid the ongoing This Morning furore.
She has been called to give evidence to a parliamentary committee to answer questions about the broadcaster’s approach to safeguarding and complaint-handling following Phillip’s resignation.
The chief executive will face questions from MPs on the This Morning row at the Culture, Media and Sport committee on June 14.
Holly has been on holiday in Portugal with her family while the Phillip scandal has played out
