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Holly Willoughby’s co-host Craig Doyle, 52, didn’t shy away from explicitly praising the current This Morning team in his latest Instagram post after replacing Phillip Schofield, 61.
After Holly shared a selfie with Craig alongside a blue love heart emoji, it wasn’t long before the presenter re-posted it to share his support for the ITV show after weeks of controversy.
Craig wrote: “We laughed and laughed and laughed again Thanks @hollywilloughby.
“This TM team is [OK hand emoji],” he concluded, showing his approval for his colleagues.
Craig’s candid post comes after the furore surrounding Phillip’s exit, after over 20 years fronting the ITV show.
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Holly returned to This Morning on Monday alongside Josie Gibson, after Phillip quit the ITV show, before admitting to lying about an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger male colleague.
The show has also been branded “toxic” in claims made by former This Morning resident GP, Dr Ranj Singh.
However, Craig has thrown his support behind the programme, taking to Twitter after Holly’s opening statement addressing Schofield’s exit was criticised by some viewers.
He tweeted: “Delighted to join the wonderful Holly on the sofa later this week.
“The show has been a joy to work on with one of the hardest working & talented teams I know. See you Wednesday.”
Holly’s on-air speech about Schofield was mocked by celebrities including David Baddiel and Jeremy Vine, after she began by saying: “Firstly, are you okay? I hope so.”
Holly continued: “It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil and I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have.
“Shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s been going on and full of questions.
“All of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.”
She added: “It’s equally hard to see the toll it’s taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone.
“I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that the show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.
“And from the heart, can I just say thank you for all your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison, Craig and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every day.”
