This Morning with Phil and Holly, Monday 10.30am, ITV1

Posted by Jane Murphy

I was so excited about watching Holly Willoughby’s This Morning debut, I accidentally turned on the TV 10 minutes early and caught Jeremy Kyle berating a saggy-faced woman for doing heroin with her 14-year-old daughter. This made Holly’s on-screen arrival - clinging to the arm of co-presenter Phillip Schofield - all the more welcome. But would she prove herself to be more than just a pretty face?

In a word: yes! After some initial banter about how excited they both were and how Holly’s been having anxiety dreams about her new job, TV’s much-touted double act got down to business. And rather than being weaned in gently with an airy-fairy showbiz chat, Holly’s first challenge was a serious interview with Michael Shields, the Liverpool supporter who spent four years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit.

Although Phillip took the lead throughout most of the emotional chat, Holly proved a trusty sidekick - displaying empathy and involvement throughout, but not afraid to ask tricky questions. Jolly good. Next!

Admittedly, the rest of the show covered more familiar ground. There was a chummy interview with Neil Morrissey, who spoke openly about his money woes and revealed he’d love to make another series of Men Behaving Badly (hmmm… I wonder if the two facts are connected).

Chris Moyles turned up and blathered on about how great he is then took the p*** out of Phil’s shoes. New chef Dean Edwards showed up to make Holly’s favourite dish (chicken kiev, fact fans). And the Nolan Sisters trooped in to “sing us out” at the end (Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Holding Out For A Hero’, in case you were wondering.)

So all in all, it’s job done! Holly’s pulled it off and we can all look forward to tomorrow‘s guest slot from reclusive singer Peter Andre, who‘s popping in to tell Holly about his new album. But now I’m off to watch Mel B co-present Loose Women. Brilliant!

What did you think of Holly’s This Morning debut? Tell us here.

Picture: Wenn

SEE ALSO:
Phil pays tribute to Fern >>
Peter Andre is lined up for This Morning >>
It’s Fern v Holly at the TV Awards >>

Comments

[Sheila]

Holly is awful with Philip, nice girl but not right for This Morning. I have given it a good try but now prefer Eamonn and Ruth. This Morning must have lost lots of viewers.

[Rebecca Woodcock]

Bring back Fern!! Love this morning but not enjoying Holly on it at all. I do not find her easy to relate to as i think most people did with Fern and cant get intersted in anything she says. I also agree they look odd together.

[Jenny]

Holly appears to be a lovely person and extremely pretty to boot but there is just no on screen chemistry between her and Phil (although Phil might think there is!). Fern is very difficult to replace but Holly is just not suited to this role IMO. Mostly I only watch on Fridays and holidays now when Ruth and Eamonn are on.

[Mrs Christine Jones]

I am a mum of two grown-uo children and loved watching Fern with Phil on this morning.
I could not imagine how Holly could replace Fern but she is doing a very good job, she has a lovely personality and an empathy when covering serious subjects and I think given a chance she will do very well.

[Bubbles]

Holly is the perfect person for the job, she seems a really lovely person. Thank god Devina didn,t get it or I should think the whole country would have turned OFFFF. Go for it girl you are perfect.

[Elaine]

I really like Holly and think she is very good on the type of programmes she usually presents but I don't think she is the right replacement for Fern at all. They do look like father and daughter and through no fault of her own, I don't think she has enough life experience to really be able to fill the role successfully held previously by more mature women.

[Caroline]

I thought Holly did really well - it's a huge role to fill and she should just be allowed a bit of time to settle in without all the negative criticism.

[Annemarie]

I think Holly was great. You can't please everyone though.

[treelife]

How could Holly possibly fill the seat of Fern? have you seen the size of it? All down to walking,cycling and ryvita, apparently!!!??? Good riddance lying Fern...

[trent]

well done perfect!

[shharley]

Holly - well, the only person who looks like he's got the cream is Phil.

I'm thinking six months down the line he'll be leaving his wife.

Holly presenting - good looking ( and Im a girl ) but window dressing.

As for Ruths hair - horrible. She looks like a witch. A sexy lady but looks 10 yrs older.

[James]

How can you not like Holly, she is the most beautiful young lady to grace our screens for years. Well done.

[steve]

Oh, Holly you are so hollow...

[leroy]

holly willoughby is awesome, as a male i dont usually find woman funny but holly is witty and amusing plus she is unbeleivably attractive, there will be alot more young men tuning in to see the perfect woman gracing their screens every morning

[Dee Hardy]

Cannot be the same without Fern, the show was fun, Phil might like Holly but she would not be my choice.

[mm]

though she was lovely much better than ruth all white smile and no head for words,i wish that she would stop that thing with the specs.

[peter]

I think if Jane Murphy was that exited about the debut of Holly Willoughby on 'This Morning' there is somthing seriously awry with her life experience to date, but leaving that aside I bet I can name one person at least who is more than happy with the exchange - Philip Schoefield!

[Paul]

Didn't she serve the custard pies on a kids tv show.Was it for the phantom flan flinger , or something like that. I used to sit with the kids watching it. Never , ever thought she would get anywhere. My god !! Hardly qualified for interviewing. But she has a nice figure, and even though her face has been in a blender, the body is the part getting bounced on the casting couch. If you think she got the job for her personality and intelligence, you need educating !

[kim]

everyone is forgetting it was Ferns choice to leave and she wasnt flavour of the month when all the stuff about her gastric band came out after saying she had lost weight by a sensible diet. Holly is fresh young & her and philip gel together. If you dont like her there are other channels you can watch or go get a job instead of sitting about watching day time tv and slaggin holly. Job well done Holly.

[DEBBIE]

sugery no interviewing skills and would be better on kids TV. over the top smile and only chosen fo looks. The program will loose viewers now. Give the job to Davina or Ruth.

[They said what?]

Melanie Sykes is rude and unnatural on the television why in God's name would you want her on for the entire show?? Of course Philip Schofield was leading it was her first day! Give her a break for God's sake. If you lot think you could do better then go ahead .. get a job in tv then watch all of us trash you. How rude, unkind and sad you people are.

[Ali]

The real difference between Fern and Holly - apart from age and life experience - is that Fern was a journalist before she was a presenter. This gave her gravitas and solid interviewing skills. Fluffy and cute is all very well, but you couldn't see Holly tackling any serious subjects on air. Would be too much like car crash telly. Bad move from ITV for not thinking Fern's replacement through properly.

[pagey]

she is well worth a belt!!

[Sue, London]

Who chose Holly?! She does not suit the show and is too self opinionated. Get rid of her soon! Replace her with Melanie Sykes. Melanie is stylish and sophisticated - unlike Holly!

[ruth]

i will never watch it while Holly is on she thinks too much of her self BRING BACK FERN she was a lovely person to watch

[Eileen Prince]

I thought Holly was great and better than Fern.

[Sheila Bailey]

Holly is far too young for the show, Melanie Sykes should have got the job. Obviously Phil had a big say in who got it, but the problem is that whilst they are okay on the ice skating show, this simply does not work on the morning show, they look like father and daughter.

[colin]

sexy and sweet as always, and the Nerves showed but give it time like the great job on x factor. all the best holly. col x

[Jake]

I'm sure she will help to bring a younger audience to This Morning (which ITV really needs).

[Ian]

oh dear, oh dear.
A bimbo and a himbo (no change there)
This is hardly cutting edge TV journalism, it is only early morning froth.
Who gives a tish? Get a life you lot.

[Richard Newman]

Not a patch on Fern
basically CRAP
Phillip was doing all the work and trying to keep a stiff upper lip
GET HER OFF

[Mags]

Well I think she'll do just fine. Am sure Fern wasn't perfect when she started either. Apart from that what has Ruth done to her hair?? Not liking the dark look!!

[Simon]

She was awesome.
Bringing this morn into the future.

[shireen]

Well done Holly. You nailed it, you were brilliant good luck for the future and a cuddle for William

[Rob]

Ya bunch of sour pussies..ya must lead sad lives!

[Disgusted in the human race]

I'd love to see you lot do a better job? For God's sake it was her first day! Yes it's a tough job to fill Ferns shoes but y'know what? She's not Fern! She's a different person and if you don't like it switch channel. Fern was great but give Holly a chance to get in the flippin door before you start trashing her. Sad sad people. Never happier than when you're bringing someone else down huh? Get a life.

[Alison]

She was awful. Yes pretty but she isn't what we need on this type of show. Great on the Xtra factor but too young for This Morning. Also was it just me or does it make Phil act like a purvy uncle around her???

[Alison Daniel]

I think she was fantastic, she has big shoes to fill and needs time to settle in, stop giving her a hard time. Holly looked beautiful and I hope she does really well.

[Amy Goodall]

Holly is far better than Fern!! It was her first day and she was brilliant! stop player hating and give her a break!

[Pendley]

Not a patch on Fern, why do we always have to have young blondes bimbo's? Watched it once, not again, now lost a veiwer!

[trevor small]

I agree that all the fat women of the uk,will hate holly because they are jealous of her body

[palmer]

I agree with philip mkay she only got the job because mr Schofield shoved her name to the top of the list, she is way too young for this kind of programme. and who cares if 'she looked lovely' its her presenting skills and rapport with guests that are more important, to me she always seems to be an over excited child with her squeaky voice. I was rooting for Melanie Sykes who would have been better suited, i think they should have produced a list and let the viewers decide who they want to watch. I don't want to watch Hollie Willoughby and how arrogant for Mr Schofield to decide that i do.

[pinky]

not a patch on fern hollys just a bimbo with big boobs, to pull in the ratings, bring back fern or ruth

[Sam]

Give the poor girl a chance, she's got big shoes to fill, Fern was on there for a long time and created something special.No-one can be like Fern and I don't expect she is trying to be like her, so leave her alone and Go Holly! Are the Nolans hard up, my god what on earth was that???

[scatts]

I thought she came across as very fake and superficial. She seemed to be more worried about how she looked than her input into the show. Fern was brilliant and a hard act to follow I know, but Holly just doesn't cut it. Think it needs a more mature lady, not a child.

[kay]

she is lovely but she isnt fearn or ruth to eamonn please give us more of a ruth or fearn i dont think phil & holly gel as well

[Helen Dale]

BRING BACK THE REAL WOMAN, FERN BRITTON... PLEASE,,HOLLY IS JUST A LITTLE GIRL....

[AJR]

Not a patch on Fern...give her a chance...nerves are always a factor...I think the girl will do good!!!

[paul jeffries]

basically CRAP
Phillip was doing all the work and trying to kep a stiff upper lip,,,,, she is THICK and DIM,,,,,,,,,,,,, GET HER OFF

[Sandra]

Well done Holly, you have got thru the first day - try to relax and enjoy it and with the fabulous Phil by your side you will sail thru it. You had big shoes to fill and think you did it and you looked gr8 too.

[Heidi]

Damn - missed it! Didn't realise it started again 2day. Think she's lost quite a bit of weight by the looks of it. I know she's just had her baby - but she must've been working it since! ;-)

[royanne clarke]

thought holly did really really well.looked fabulous,natural and fresh.....and sounded great...

the nolans im afraid were awful,...definitely watch HOLLY again

[tim boreland]

holly this morning u were absolutly brilliant keep up the good work babe cu on the show in the morning 10;30

[philip mckay]

I would rather see a 40 yr old doing the show with philip more Motherly person , Holy is good but NOT for that show she is only doing it because of Mr Schofield , Its the old story im afraid its Not what you Know its who you know in this case. We need to get some new faces on TV and This Morning should have given an unknown that big chance , Im really fed up of seeing the same presenters on everyshow that TV is making going from one show to the next No wonder TV is going down the PAN!! Why oh Why cant they use a fresh new face , ratings are NOT going to go down because of it, Philip is great and in the driving seat for that I could give ITV a few new faces and good presenters for the show far better than Peter Andrie he is a waist of space and not a good presenter at all, God only knows who said he could be a presenter. Let me produce your show This Morning .

[George]

She was great. Love Holly to bits!

[Jim McG]

What a stunner, all the fatties wont like her because she is beautiful. Well done, let's not encourage obesity and diabetes, the crisp brigade beware.

[steph]

right ithat kevin pulver dude whats with the blonde bimbo comment ferns blonde too!

[Ani]

Thought Holly was gr8 with Philip. She looked 'absolutely fabulous'.

[Kevin Pulver]

Not a patch on Fern, looked like a blonde bimbo with no personality, she wont last long and neither will the nolans who were still living in the seventies, amateurish or what?