Susanna Reid sends best wishes to ‘beloved’ Holly Willoughby after ‘difficult’ decision-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has sent her best wishes to Holly Willoughby, after she quit This Morning after 14 years.

The 42-year-old host, who has been presenting alongside the likes of Alison Hammond and Josie Gibson after Phillip Schofield’s exit earlier this year,  announced her departure on Instagram with a statement on Tuesday.

‘I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning,’ she began.

She added that it was ‘a difficult goodbye’ and that she was making the decision for her own and her family’s benefit, after an alleged kidnap plot.

Talking about Holly’s exit, Susanna began: ‘I just want to open the show by sending, I’m sure, all of our best wishes to Holly Willoughby, who has made what is clearly the difficult decision to step down from This Morning on ITV daytime after 14 years at the programme.’

Susanna, who frequently presents Good Morning Britain with former This Morning host Richard Madeley, went on: ‘She’s clearly made the right decision for her and her family, as she says, a very difficult goodbye, but family first.

Holly quit This Morning after 14 years (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Susanna addressed Holly’s departure on Good Morning Britain (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

‘Our very best wishes to Holly, a beloved colleague. I’ll miss seeing her walking past as she goes to work.’

Co-host Ed Balls continued: ‘She’s had such a tough year, but you feel confident that she’ll be back on television soon, we don’t know when but she’s a total star, so it’ll be a big loss.’

This comes after Holly’s co-stars reacted to her exit, with Alison writing: ‘This is a very sad day! Love you.’

Holly’s co-stars including Alison Hammond have reacted to the news (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Craig Doyle added: ‘We are so supportive of you and we love you to bits, we just wish it didn’t end this way. Its a sad day for everyone. .’

Friday host Dermot O’Leary penned: ‘Nothing but love and respect for you and yours. X.’

Holly’s statement read: ‘I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.’

‘To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much.

‘This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you,’ she continued.

‘Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You’ve been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day.’

She went on to recall former This Morning hosts Richard and Judy, who said ‘we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers’.

Holly acknowledged former This Morning hosts Richard and Judy in her statement (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)

‘It’s been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family,’ Holly said.

The Wylde Moon founder’s departure comes after she was said to have been pulled off of her This Morning hosting duties moments before it was set to air last Thursday, following a man being arrested and charged with soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap of the ITV presenter.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1, with This Morning airing at 10am.

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