ITV viewers today blasted Holly Willoughby's musical return to This Morning as 'peak cringe' - as the show faces a 'make or break' battle for survival following the Phillip Schofield scandal.
The 42-year-old, smiling effusively in a black and white polka dot dress, was seen dancing along to a rendition of ABBA's Dancing Queen by the cast of Mamma Mia The Party before embracing her fellow presenter Alison Hammond.
But fans were less than convinced about the show of forced bonhomie to mark the end of Holly's eight-week summer break at her luxury villa in Portugal, with one complaining: 'It's too early for this cringefest!'
Once considered a crown jewel of ITV's schedule, This Morning now faces an uncertain future following Schofield's departure in May after he admitted to an 'unwise but not illegal' affair with a much younger male colleague.
It has now emerged that the show has poached the boss of its rival Channel 4 daytime series Steph's Packed Lunch as it awaits the results of an external investigation into complaints about the network's toxic working culture.
Vivek Sharma has been hired from the lunchtime show hosted by Steph McGovern to work closely with under-fire This Morning editor Martin Frizell.
Producers will be desperate to recapture some of This Morning's pre-Schofield scandal magic, but reactions to today's opening scene suggest they are a long way off winning over viewers.
One wrote: 'If there's a more cringe inducing show than #ThisMorning I'd like to know.'
A second said: 'They couldn't have possibly opened the show worse than this' as another asked: 'What on earth is this fresh hell??'
Others branded it a 'cringefest' and 'peak cringe', while another wrote: 'I've had surgeries more enjoyable than this'.
But others came to Holly's defence and praised her return, with one person writing: 'Love these 2!!! Finally can enjoy this #thismorning again. Jealous trolls just stop.'
Another agreed, tweeting: 'Welcome back @hollywills #thismorning' and a third echoed: '#thismorning loving Alison and Holly presenting together'.
Holly took to her Instagram ahead of the show to display her outfit and to express her excitement to be returning.
She wrote: 'And just like that… it's back to school… can't wait to see you!!! @thismorning'.
Today, body language expert Darren Stanton that Holly seemed 'unsure' during her first show back, while Alison 'made presenting look easy and effortless'.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, Darren picked up on Holly's body language, explaining that she was fidgeting on camera - which is a 'sign of impatience and nervousness'.
He then explained that he saw the presenter 'tilting away' from Alison when sitting on the sofa, suggesting she finds Alison's presence 'overpowering'.
Darren said: 'Alison comes across as super relaxed, comfortable and confident. She makes it look easy and effortless. It's clear Holly depends on her co-hosts when she is presenting, but Alison could own the room.
'When the pair were standing up and speaking to the camera, Alison had her hands down to her front, while Holly had her hands to the side as well as touching her fingers.
'This fidgeting is a sign of impatience and nervousness. She definitely comes across as nervous, unsettled and unsure. It's clear it's very much new to her and she's still adjusting.
'Alison is quite animated, she comes across as super confident, but when Holly sits next to her on the sofa as they present as a duo, we see Holly tilting herself away to the left. This suggests she finds Alison's presence a bit overpowering. It's a way of saying, 'This is too much for me.'
'Alison is loud, bubbly and confident - and she's also tactile with Holly. She has very strong eye contact with her. She's often making jokes and touching her hand a couple of times. This is to show she is here to support Holly.'
He went on to explain: 'She wants to make her feel supported. Holly hasn't yet made that gesture with Alison, and that tells me Alison has a much stronger authenticity and rapport with Holly than she has with her.
'I have seen Holly masking a couple of her smiles. This doesn't suggest she was lying, but she could be wanting to put on a front to protect how she's feeling. It shows she isn't completely comfortable on the sofa. She also displayed a twitching gesture with her fingers, which suggests she wasn't feeling completely secure at that moment.'
The poaching of top TV executive Vivek Sharma Channel 4 has prompted speculation among This Morning staff that the role of Mr Frizell, the show's long-serving boss, may be under threat.
An ITV source said: 'It came as a bit of a shock to some that Vivek was hired to work alongside Martin. They have known one another for some time and have worked together too.
'But that timing, as the outcome of the investigation is expected, has meant there is lots of talk of people's futures.
'You can't help but wonder if the findings from the review don't go the way ITV hope then Vivek might get the big job at This Morning.'
ITV's head of daytime Emma Gormley, chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall and her deputy Kevin Lygo are also under threat of losing their jobs following the Schofield scandal.
Ms Willoughby, 42, is said to be 'delighted' to have her close friend Alison Hammond present This Morning with her as she is given the reins to lead the show after co-presenting with Schofield for 14 years until he left in May.
She is hosting with Dermot O'Leary, Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle while Welsh heartthrob presenter Steve Jones will appear on the sofa in the not-too-distant future with ITV bosses excited about their on-screen chemistry.
Sources close to Ms Willoughby, who has spent the summer at her lavish villa in Portugal, yesterday said she was excited to return.
- TBC -
Full timeline of the Phillip Schofield crisis
Monday April 17 2023
Both Schofield and co-presenter Holly Willoughby should have been scheduled to return on air together after the former took leave to appear as a witness at his brother Timothy's trial, where he was convicted of child sex offences.
Phillip responds to his brother's charges by saying he 'no longer has a brother'.
Despite Schofield returning as scheduled, Willoughby is absent after contracting shingles, which sees her off air for a week.
Wednesday May 10 2023
The Sun reports Schofield and Willoughby are 'barely speaking', as 'insiders' claim their relationship had 'cooled' and issues had 'rumbled for some time'.
Thursday May 11 2023
Schofield hails Willoughby as his 'rock' while admitting 'the last few weeks haven't been easy for either of us'.
Sunday May 21 2023
Following Schofield's departure, ITV confirms that Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond will take over presenting duties for the next instalment of This Morning on Monday May 22.
Meanwhile, Holly Willoughby takes early half-term leave. She is expected to return to the show on Monday June 5.
Monday June 5 2023
Holly Willoughby returns to This Morning for the first time since the affair, saying she felt 'shaken, troubled, let down and worried' about the events that led to Phillip Schofield's departure from the ITV programme.
Eamonn Holmes launches a fresh attack on Phillip Schofield, insisting he doesn't believe the former ITV star's claim that he has made 'one mistake' in his 40-year career.
Speaking on his GB News programme, Phillip's former colleague Eamonn called for 'anyone watching today who has kissed Phillip Schofield, let us know'.
Monday September 4 2023
Holly returns to This Morning following her long break, with viewers calling the moment 'cringeable'.
