Why it's time TO LEAVE

Holly might want to stay presenting This Morning, but can viewers ever forgive and forget, asks TV expert Sarah-Louise Robertson

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Holly Willoughby has secured her position for now as the ‘main star’ of ITV flagship show This Morning.

Bosses are reportedly hoping to keep her on-board with a megabucks deal, while the BBC is thought to be scrabbling around trying to make a counter offer. But this – in my opinion – is a massive mistake by ITV, who should have been grabbing the opportunity to let Holly leave quietly by the back door and instead bring in new talent.

I understand that the show – which is at the centre of an independent inquiry, led by Jane Mulcahy KC, after the scandalous departure of its long-standing presenter Phillip Schofield – is looking to safeguard its future and prevent further damaging fallout, but is keeping Holly the answer?

Phillip’s unceremonious fall from grace, after he confessed to lying about his relationship with a young male colleague, left its hard-working loyal staff behind the scenes fearing for their futures, with question marks over whether the programme was ‘tarnished beyond repair’.

And while you can’t blame Holly for co-host Phillip’s ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a much-younger This Morning runner behind his wife’s back, she’s arguably not been covered in glory herself.