They’ve been getting to grips with scaled-back editions of their TV show amid the coronavirus pandemic.
And Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield brought some bright relief during the global crisis as they poked fun at This Morning’s new minimalist format on Thursday.
During a live link between host Lorraine Kelly, hosts Holly, 39, and Phillip, 57, were praised by fans for ‘sticking to schedule’ as they joked ‘we’re cutting back on everything’ while struggling to hear the fellow ITV presenter, 60.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield brought some bright relief during the global crisis as they poked fun at This Morning’s new minimalist format on Thursday
As the Scottish broadcaster prepared to pass over hosting duties to the dynamic duo, Phil admitted they couldn’t work out what she was saying from the live studios.
Injecting a hint of humour into the mishap, he quipped: ‘We’re cutting back on everything but we need some talk back! We are going to keep smiling’, after revealing crew members had been cut.
Viewers expressed their gratitude towards the pair for carrying on with their TV appearance amid COVID-19 fears as blonde beauty Holly shared a beaming snap of her typically chic outfit on Instagram.
Mishap: During a live link between host Lorraine Kelly, hosts Holly, 39, and Phillip, 57, joked ‘we’re cutting back on everything’ while struggling to hear the fellow ITV presenter, 60
What did you say? As the Scottish broadcaster prepared to pass over hosting duties to the dynamic duo, Phil admitted they couldn’t work out what she was saying from the live studios
Hopeful: Injecting a hint of humour into the mishap, he quipped: ‘We’re cutting back on everything but we need some talk back! We are going to keep smiling’
One wrote on social media: ‘So glad you will still be posting! Need to focus on normal life for a while. Thank you x.’ [sic]
‘Thank you for still working you know I’d miss you X’, another penned, while a third agreed: ‘Thanks Holly. I needed cheering up this morn’.
Others shared: ‘Routine is what we need thank you’… ‘Gorgeous as always – Many thanks to you, Phil and the whole team for trying to keep us sane through all this’. [sic]
‘I live for you and phil on this morning – makes me happy… Her smile can brighten up the darkest of day’s #queenholly #thismorning.’ [sic]
The show must go on! Business continued as usual as they played the daily Spin To Win game with viewers
On Wednesday’s edition, the pair admitted they are ‘holding on by the skin of our teeth’ amid COVID-19.
The stripped back crew included minimal camera operators and a reduced hair and makeup team, as guest Matthew Wright revealed he had to do his own makeup.
Matthew took part in the news review segment at the opening of the show with Anneka Rice and joked about his lack of makeup skills, before Phillip admitted the minimal staff rule also applied to the camera crew.
‘I think the most important thing personally is that we have some kind of current affairs transmissions going on,’ said Matthew.
‘Sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of routine’: Blonde beauty Holly shared a beaming snap of her typically chic outfit on Instagram
‘We need this’: Viewers expressed their gratitude towards the pair for carrying on with their TV appearance amid COVID-19 fears
‘I mean I can’t imagine no This Morning even though I’m aware that the staffing has been scaled right back. We do our own makeup, things are changing.’
‘The idea that we’d have no window on the world, I mean you guys have got to be here.’
Discussing the recent shutdown on BBC productions including EastEnders and Casualty, Phil warned:
‘It’s bound to happen. We’re all holding on by the skin of our teeth.’
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s CEO, gave an overview of ITV’s response to the coronavirus crisis earlier this week:
‘This week has seen an escalation in the impact of the coronavirus with the Government ramping up measures and recommendations that are having profound implications for people and organisations across the UK.
‘All businesses are being deeply affected and ITV is no exception, but as a Public Service Broadcaster we remain committed to doing everything we can to continue to provide news, drama, entertainment and factual programmes to our viewers to keep them informed about this crisis and to offer them an escape from it.
‘The health of our own people and those who work with us remains our priority and we will implement the latest official guidance. I would like to thank everybody for the extra efforts being made in every team across ITV. We are also working closely with our partners in the industry to keep our shows on air.
‘Whatever happens, we will continue to broadcast our six channels, which, between them, offer hundreds of hours of content every week for free and accessible to everyone in the UK.’
Coronavirus was classed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week, leading countries such as Italy, Spain and China implementing nationwide lockdowns.
As of Thursday, 104 people have died out of 2,626 confirmed cases in the UK.
Sporting events, music festival and other social gatherings have been either cancelled or postponed due to the crisis.
Nearly 200,000 people around the world have been infected and almost 8,000 have died since the outbreak began last December.