This Morning holding crisis talks in attempt to save brand amid Holly Willoughby exit

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Holly Willoughby confirmed her exit from This Morning on Tuesday, October 10 after a whirlwind of a year for the star. It comes as friends of the presenter slammed the show, with one friend of the 42-year-old, claiming that it was outrageous that an “intelligent, brilliant woman who is a consummate professional had been forced to give up a job she loved because of things out of her control...

It’s a damning indictment of Britain today.” However, they claimed that recent events had left her fearing for her safety and she was “devastated” by the fallout, reports the Mirror.ITV bosses are now facing crisis meetings in an attempt to save the brand after the "triple blow" following the Phillip Schofield scandal, the loss of Holly and losing the National TV Awards daytime prize for the first time in 12 years.

On Tuesday, Rochelle Humes and Craig Doyle opened the show with heartfelt messages. Rochelle said: “Of course, we want to start by sending our love, best wishes, and respect to our Holly.” Craig added: “Holly made what we know would’ve been a heartbreaking decision to leave This Morning after 14 years.”Holly, who has three kids, 13-year-old son Harry, 11-year-old daughter Belle, and eight-year-old Chester with her husband Dan Baldwin, has been absent since last week.

Rochelle added: “Holly is quite rightly putting her family first.” Holly’s friend added: “Holly felt she had to go, but she got in touch to say how moved she was by the tribute, it meant a lot to her.”In a statement on Tuesday, Holly said it had been a “difficult decision”.