SHATTERED Phillip Schofield will not watch Holly Willoughby’s return to This Morning tomorrow because it will be too devastating for him, his pals say.
Holly, 42, is expected to tell viewers of her sadness at the TV break-up with Phil, 61.
But despite Phillip’s support and affection for his former co-star, a friend tonight said: “He physically could not watch — he’s not there yet.
“Even listening to the opening credits would be hugely triggering.
“His family is being incredibly careful not to have the TV on when he’s in the room to ensure he doesn’t see anything.
“Of course he is aware Holly is back on air today and he absolutely wanted her to shine, and smash it.
“But he physically could not watch — he is not there yet.”
Nervy Holly returned from a holiday in Portugal over the weekend to face the cameras for the first time since the Schofield scandal broke.
In a special statement at the start of the show today, she is set to tell viewers of her sadness at the onscreen break-up with Phil.
But she will vow that the long-running programme must go on.
Phillip and Holly presented the programme together for 13 years.
She will be flanked by Josie Gibson when she makes her first appearance on This Morning after a fortnight’s break.
A source said: “Holly is naturally nervous about this and is being supported by This Morning.
“Speaking about Phil and what has happened is not going to be easy and emotions are running high.
“Holly is a consummate professional but this will arguably be one of the toughest things she has ever had to do in her television career.”
Sources said Holly had been working on what she would want to say for some time.
The insider added: “The show is braced for tears and Holly is getting support from the team.
“Everyone is rooting for her and knows this is incredibly difficult.”
The Sun on Sunday yesterday exclusively revealed that Holly was preparing to make an emotional statement.
A source said Holly had written her words carefully and “will be sensitive”.
In his only newspaper interview since quitting the show, Phil told The Sun how he and Holly were no longer speaking after he confessed to lying over his affair with a young runner.
He revealed he had sent her a text message apologising for lying before his statement admitting what he had done was made public.
Insiders said their friendship, which had been strained for some time, was over for good.
Phil told The Sun last week: “I have lost my best friend.
“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 anyway 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*** 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.”
Holly will remain on This Morning until mid-July when she will take a break for the summer holidays as planned.
Show insiders revealed how she would be remaining on a rotation of presenters until a decision was made at a later date about a permanent replacement for Phil.
Friday co-hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will present This Morning from Monday to Thursday in Holly’s absence.
Phillip quit This Morning on Saturday May 20. The following Friday he admitted lying and revealed he was leaving ITV.
A show source said: “Phil’s departure has thrown the show into chaos and now they are trying to steady the ship again.
“Holly will be working with people like Josie, Rochelle Humes, Craig Doyle and Joel Dommett until July, with Alison and Dermot holding the fort on Fridays.
“When she breaks for summer Alison and Dermot will be taking on the lion’s share of shifts and as they have done over the past fortnight and will be presenting This Morning from Monday to Friday.
“There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the future of the show and its format.
“But going forward, everyone working on This Morning hope it calms down.”
On Wednesday, ITV boss Carolyn McCall will be quizzed by MPs in parliament over the broadcaster’s “approach to safeguarding and complaint handling”.
She was invited to speak at the Culture, Media and Sport committee after she ordered an external probe into Phil and allegations made against him during his 21 years working on This Morning.
Stars including Holly, Dermot and former host Eamonn Holmes will all be asked to give statements to an independent barrister.
In a letter last week, McCall said the broadcaster was supporting the young man who had an affair with Phil during his time working on the show.
The broadcaster has also offered therapy to Phil as part of a support package.
Jane Mulcahy KC is expected to begin her independent probe in the coming days.
In our interview Phil admitted he has not watched a single episode of This Morning since his departure.
This meant he did not see the slightly stilted onscreen tribute from presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.
He said last week: “I can’t watch it — I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to watch it again.”
