This Morning has aired a sweet tribute to Holly Willoughby.
On Tuesday evening, the mum-of-three announced her shock departure from the ITV morning show after 14 years.
In recent months, the TV personality had been co-hosting the show alongside a varying roster of presenters following the departure of her former co-host and best pal Phillip Schofield.
In the opening credits of Wednesday’s This Morning, a montage tribute to Holly aired alongside the phrases: “end of an era,” “family comes first,” “we’ll miss you!,’ and “goodbye Holly”.
Opening the show, Rochelle Humes said: “Of course we want to start by sending our love, best wishes and respect to our Holly.”
Her co-host Craig Doyle continued: “Last night, Holly made what we know will have been a heartbreaking decision to leave This Morning after 14 years.”
Rochelle explained: “Holly loved her job here and was really looking forward to the future of the show, but recent events, especially in the past week, have been hard to deal with and she’s quite rightly putting her family first.”
Craig gushed: “On behalf of everyone here, in front and behind the camera, we just loved working with Holly and she made coming to work so much fun.”
“We’re all really, really sad and we’re really gonna miss her.”
Rochelle continued: “Holly said she’s incredibly proud of what she’s achieved on the show and so are we. She will forever be one of us.”
Finally, Craig concluded: “But, as Holly Willoughby knows only too well, the show must go on.”
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On Tuesday evening, Holly announced her shock departure from This Morning after 14 years, after details of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her were revealed.
In a statement, shared via Instagram, the TV personality wrote: “I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.”
“To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together.”
“Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.”
“Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You’ve been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day,” she continued.
“Richard and Judy said ‘we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers.’”
“It’s been an honour to just be part of it’s story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.”
“I will miss you all so much,” she added, before signing off with, “Holly.”
