Holly Willoughby snubbed ITV’s big annual bash this week after leaving This Morning for her summer holiday without saying goodbye to viewers.
The 42-year-old was just one of a number of high profile ITV stars who decided against attending, in what has been a tough year for the channel.
Like Holly, who has faced a number of challenges due to Phillip Schofield’s affair scandal, GMB’s Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway were not in attendance.
READ MORE: Holly Willoughby spotted on holiday after leaving This Morning without saying goodbye
Instead, Holly was seen enjoying a much-needed break in Portugal, in pictures Daily Star shared earlier this week.
The mum-of-three faced a number of set backs this year, but it culminated in her former best friend Phil’s exit from ITV.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Schofe quit This Morning following his brother Timothy’s conviction for child sex offences, and then left ITV altogether after his “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague was revealed.
At the time, Holly slammed her former television husband for his “deceit”, revealing he had lied to her about the affair.
She said in a damning statement: “When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here .
(Image: WireImage)
“It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”
She took an extended break from This Morning but addressed the scandal – which also saw Schofe dropped by his agent YMU – upon her return.
In a highly-memed moment, Holly started off by addressing viewers directly, saying: “Firstly, are you ok? I hope so.”
She said it was “strange” to be sitting on the show without Phil and added she was feeling “shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s been going on, and full of questions”.
(Image: Can Nguyen/REX/Shutterstock)
Holly again slammed Schofe’s lies before looking forward to the “new chapter” – which has so far meant her hosting alongside a rotating co-presenter.
The likes of Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle have sat by her side, in a similar way to Good Morning Britain after Piers Morgan quit.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here .
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
