Richard Madeley has shared his thoughts on ITV co-star Holly Willoughby leaving This Morning after 14 years.
The ITV show returned for another instalment on Wednesday (October 11) with Susanna and Ed Balls back at the helm. And one of the hot topics on the programme was news that Holly had quit the ITV daytime show after 14 years.
The TV star confirmed that she will not be returning to the famous blue sofa in an emotional message to fans. She decided to leave her job “for me and my family” after missing episodes of the programme after a man was charged with soliciting to commit murder over an alleged plot to kidnap the TV presenter.
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And on Wednesday (October 11) former This Morning host Richard opened up about her shock exit. Speaking to the hosts, Richard branded the move as “brave and wise”.
Speaking about her exit, Richard said: “I think, and Judy agrees with me, Holly has done a brave and wise and courageous thing.” He explained: “And we know here in the building, because the This Morning studios is just a few yards away, we know that Holly genuinely puts family first.”
Richard went on: “She puts family first and her career second, and that really is the order. Now people watching don’t know that, they just see Holly the professional.
“And I think given the year she’s had, and given she’s done the show for years, it’s given her a chance to step back and take stock and she’s put her family first.”
Elsewhere on GMB, Susanna also issued an emotional message to Holly, following the news of his exit. At the start of the show, shewas quick to send her well wishes.
She began: “I just want to open the show by sending, I’m sure, all of our best wishes to Holly Willoughby, who has made what is clearly the difficult decision to step down from This Morning on ITV daytime after 14 years at the programme.” Susanna added: “She’s clearly made the right decision for her and her family, as she says, a very difficult goodbye, but family first.”
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
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The journalist went on: “Our very best wishes to Holly, a beloved colleague. I’ll miss seeing her walking past as she goes to work.”
Susanna’s co-host Ed then chimed in to have his say. He said “She’s had such a tough year, but you feel confident that she’ll be back on television soon, we don’t know when but she’s a total star, so it’ll be a big loss.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
