HOLLY Willoughby has broken her silence on a "difficult year" filled with "ups and downs" following former This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield's exit.
Earlier this year, Phillip, 61 – Holly's longtime best pal and co-star – was axed from the show and ITV more widely after admitting to an affair with a much younger male colleague.
At Tuesday's National Television Awards Holly, 42 – dressed in a stunning lilac dress – addressed a tricky few months to The Sun.
Speaking at London's O2 Arena, she candidly opened up on This Morning's show future and said: "If I'm honest it's been really up and down.
"But what's lovely is people rallying around you. The support is there. People want us to do well. It all feels good again.
"I just want to the future to continue as it is. We are very blessed we have a great team of people we really do.
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"Everybody has been so lovely tonight and everyone is so happy to meet you. I mean you're in their living room everyday it's not like meeting someone from Coronation Street.
"I know there's been a lot of talk about things and for me personally, I don't want to speak on behalf of other people, it's a world I don't recognise.
"For me, I look around and see the team getting ready and giving it all. I just want to come to work and have more of that."
Holly was attending her first NTAs without Phil.
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She faced more awkward moments in the huge south east London venue as This Morning was booed by fans.
Holly's frank words came after it was revealed Phillip had unfollowed her on Instagram – before she posted a lengthy message about "releasing negativity" and "new beginnings."
Holly returned to This Morning this week following a seven-week summer break.
Yet her comeback didn't go down well with some fans, who blasted the show's "worst opening ever."
She made her return following the turmoil that engulfed This Morning in the spring.
On Monday, The Sun exclusively revealed how axed anchor Phil was soaking up the sunshine at the pub as the episode aired.
A host of stand-in presenters filled in for Holly during the summer break, including Josie Gibson, Craig Doyle and Andi Peters.
On Wednesday, Alison will be replaced by Craig as the popular Irish anchor takes the reigns.
NTAs WINNERS
HAS your favourite telly star scooped a gong?
IS YOUR favourite telly star an NTA winner? See below.
Serial Drama
- Coronation Street
- EastEnders – Winner
- Emmerdale
- Hollyoaks
Talent Show
- Britain’s Got Talent
- Strictly Come Dancing – Winner
- The Great British Bake Off
- The Great British Sewing Bee
New Drama
- Beyond Paradise
- Blue Lights
- Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
- Wednesday – Winner
Daytime
- Loose Women
- The Chase
- The Repair Shop – Winner
- This Morning
Comedy
- Brassic
- Ghosts
- Ted Lasso
- Young Sheldon – Winner
Authored Documentary
- Deborah James: Bowelbabe in Her Own Words
- Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now – Winner
- Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction
- Rob Burrow: Living with MND
Rising Star
- Benjamin Chivers (Isaac, The Devil’s Hour)
- Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater, EastEnders) – Winner
- Channique Sterling-Brown (Dee-Dee Bailey, Coronation Street)
- Lewis Cope (Nicky Milligan, Emmerdale)
Factual
- Clarkson's Farm
- Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs – Winner
- Sort Your Life Out
- The Martin Lewis Money Show Live
TV Presenter
- Alison Hammond
- Ant & Dec – Winner
- Bradley Walsh
- Claudia Winkleman
- Martin Lewis
Quiz Game Show
- Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
- Richard Osman’s House of Games
- The 1% Club – Winner
- The Chase Celebrity Special
Drama Performance
- Brenda Blethyn (DCI Vera Stanhope, Vera)
- India Amarteifio (Young Queen Charlotte, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story)
- James Norton (Tommy Lee Royce, Happy Valley)
- Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan, Call the Midwife)
- Sarah Lancashire (Catherine Cawood, Happy Valley) – Winner
Serial Drama Performance
- Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley, Coronation Street)
- Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce-Brown, EastEnders) – Winner
- Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale)
- Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street)
TV Interview
- Louis Theroux Interviews…
- Piers Morgan Uncensored
- The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show
- The Graham Norton Show – Winner
Reality Competition
- Love Island
- Race Across the World
- SAS: Who Dares Wins
- The Traitors – Winner
Returning Drama
- Call the Midwife
- Happy Valley – Winner
- Stranger Things
- Vera
The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
- Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
- Gogglebox – Winner
- I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
- The Masked Singer
Special Recognition
Sarah Lancashire
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