Holly Willoughby wows in purple gown at first NTAs after Schofield exit

05 September 2023 , 16:50

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Holly Willoughby wows in purple gown at first NTAs after Schofield exit

Holly Willoughby stunned in a lilac dress as she prepared to head to the red carpet of the National Television Awards – which she is attending for the first time since her former colleague Phillip Schofield’s career imploded.

The 42-year-old This Morning star dazzled ahead of the 2023 National Television Awards ceremony. Holly posed for photographs ahead of the show wearing a lilac dress by Suzanne Neville London, with a stunning glam look by make up artist Patsy O'Neill using the bestselling BeautyPie make up range.

While Holly wasn’t explicitly nominated for an award herself, she was at the glitzy event as part of the This Morning team – with the show nominated in the Daytime award section alongside ITV shows The Chase and Loose Women and charming BBC showThe Repair Shop. She had also been campaigning on behalf of This Morning co-star Alison Hammond, 48, who was nominated in the TV presenter category alongside fellow ITV stars Ant & Dec, Martin Lewis and Bradley Walsh – as well as endearing BBC host Claudia Winkleman.

ITV bosses were reportedly on edge in the event of This Morning or Alison winning their categories as the show has become toxic to many since last years’ awards. Opinions began to change last autumn when Holly and then co-host Phillip Schofield, 61, skipped the queue to view the later Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in Westminster – sparking a furious backlash against the pair.

Holly Willoughby wore a lilac coloured evening gown for her National Television Awards 2023 appearance (Instagram)

Holly wowed the NTA red carpet in her lilac dress (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock for NTA)

But this was nothing compared to the scandal that erupted this year when Phil admitted he had an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger colleague when he was still married to his wife. He claimed he had hid his affair from his This Morning co-stars and bosses, including Holly.

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Holly broke her silence to share her 'hurt' over Phil's 'lies' in a social media statement after Phil's admission, she later took to the airwaves to ask viewers if they were "okay" in a lengthy statement after Phil admitted his affair.

Following Phil’s admission, reports have also emerged to suggest there is a toxic bullying culture behind the scenes of the daytime show. And MPs have even had to intervene to find out how the show is run as ITV struggles to move on from the crisis.

Mirror.co.uk