This Morning: Why Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were absent from ITV show - after fan boos at NTAs

Viewers of This Morning would have noticed two major absentees on Monday (October 17) - hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

The ITV show is presented by the renowned television duo Monday to Thursday, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary taking up the post on Fridays. However, the latter pair took up the mantle on Monday morning’s episode.

Both Holly and Phil have been marred in scrutiny and controversy recently. The pair were criticised by the public for ‘queue-gate’ when they were accused of jumping the queue to go and see the late Queen Elizbaeth II lying in state.

Their absence also comes just days after This Morning won big at this year’s National Television Awards. The ITV show won the Best Daytime Show award, beating the likes of Loose Women, The Chase and The Repair Shop. In their acceptance speech, Phillip said: “This award means so much to us every year, especially this year.”

A petition had even been created to axe the pair from This Morning, garnering more than 77,000 signatures.

But what is the real reason behind the absence of both Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield - and when will they return to This Morning? Here is everything you need to know.