Image source, PA Media

As we wait for Holly Willoughby's return to This Morning, here’s a quick look at how she has responded so far to the controversy.

When the news her long-time co-presenter was leaving after having an affair came to light, Willoughby said it was "very hurtful" to discover Schofield lied to her about his relationship with a younger colleague.

In a statement, Willoughby said when reports of it first surfaced, she "asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not".

Writing on Instagram, Willoughby added it had "taken time to process" the news.

After the announcement that Schofield was stepping down, ITV said Willoughby would take an “early half term holiday” before returning today.

Read more here.

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter

Holly Willoughby will have to strike a delicate balance on Monday's episode of This Morning.

On the one hand, she will have to be serious and sincere as she opens the programme by talking about the departure of her former friend and co-presenter Phillip Schofield.

But then she will need to change gear and attempt to put the recent controversy to one side as she carries on with the rest of the programme.

Willoughby will have to adopt a more laid-back tone as she interviews celebrity guests and introduces the programme's staple items on cooking, fashion and showbiz news.

Schofield's exit was so high-profile that she has no choice but to refer to it. But she must also keep This Morning's regular viewers in mind, who come to the show every day for its easy and undemanding mix of laid-back content.

In an emotional and frank interview with BBC News last week, Phillip Schofield said he had "lost everything" and did not see a future for his career.

Schofield told Amol Rajan his career was “over" following the affair he had with a young male colleague.

However, Schofield said the affair "was a grave error" and he "shouldn't have done it".

Read more here.

As we wait for Holly Willoughby to return to the This Morning sofa, let's take a look at how the controversy has unfolded over recent weeks:

• Early May: Tabloid speculation about a behind-the-scenes feud grows, with reports claiming the hosts are “barely speaking”
• 11 May: Phillip Schofield says “the last few weeks haven’t been easy” but Holly Willoughby was his “rock”

• 20 May: Schofield announces he is stepping down from hosting
• 26 May: He resigns from ITV and admits he had an affair with a younger colleague
• 27 May: ITV releases a statement saying it investigated rumours of a relationship between Schofield and the employee, but both had “repeatedly denied“ it

• 2 June: Schofield tells the BBC he has “lost everything” and doesn’t see a future for his career
• 5 June: Willoughby returns to the show after two weeks off

Image source, PA Media

This Morning, one of British television's most popular daytime shows, has been in crisis since Phillip Schofield admitted an affair with a younger colleague.

Schofield quit after he admitted he had lied about the relationship to his employer, broadcaster ITV, his wife, agent and lawyer.

Schofield and his co-host, Holly Willoughby, were loved by viewers for their on-screen chemistry and clips of them breaking into fits of giggles on air often went viral.

But in recent weeks, reports emerged that their friendship was souring.

Before the most recent headlines, the pair faced negative press coverage around "Queue-gate" last September, when they were accused of skipping the queue to view Queen Elizabeth II's coffin lying in state.

Then in April, Schofield's brother was found guilty of sexually abusing a boy.

Willoughby was reportedly upset that he had not warned her in advance about what his brother was accused of or that the trial was coming.

Read more: Why is This Morning in crisis?

Welcome to our live coverage of Holly Willoughby’s return to ITV’s This Morning after a crisis hit the show.

Up until a few weeks ago, Willoughby had been hosting the popular daytime TV programme with Phillip Schofield for more than a decade.

But her co-host resigned last month after admitting he’d been in a relationship with a younger colleague.

Schofield told the BBC on Friday he had “lost everything” and that his career was over.

Willoughby has been on a two-week break since the resignation. Stay with us as she is expected to address his departure at the top of the show at 10:00.