Holly Willoughby’s This Morning return date is CONFIRMED while her new co-host is announced following summer break

Holly Willoughby’s This Morning return date has been confirmed.

The much-loved TV presenter, 42, has taken her annual summer break, during which a slew of stand-ins have headlined the show, and now she’s making a comeback on Monday.

On Friday’s show, presenters Andi Peters and Rochelle Humes confirmed when she would return and also announced that she would be joined by Alison Hammond for the presentation.

Holly will resume her regular role as main presenter on the program from Monday to Thursday, while show favorite Alison will resume her role as host alongside Dermot O’Leary on their usual Friday schedule.

The blonde beauty’s summer break came just months after her longtime co-host and best friend Phillip Schofield left the show in the wake of a scandalous fling with a ‘much younger’ colleague.

Here come the girls! Alison will sit on the famous couch with Holly (pictured in March)

Confirmed! On Friday’s show, hosts Andi Peters and Rochelle Humes confirmed when she would return and also announced that Alison Hammond would be joining the presentation.

Holly spent most of her summer relaxing in Portugal, where she eloped with husband Dan Baldwin and the kids, Harry, 13, Belle, 11, and Chester, eight.

The news of her comeback comes as Holly has been rumored to have spoken with the lawyer responsible for the independent inquiry into the scandal surrounding the Phillip affair.

The This Morning presenter is said to have “completely complied and cooperated with whatever the KC asked of her,” reports The mirror.

ITV was in turmoil earlier this year after 61-year-old Philip admitted to having an ‘ill-advised but not illegal’ relationship with a much younger colleague, with the presenter eventually leaving ITV altogether.

In the months surrounding the scandal, This Morning came under heavy criticism, with ITV staff questioned about exactly what they knew about the affair, leading to the broadcaster announcing that they would bring in Jane Mulcahy KC to ‘carry out an external inquiry’ to establish the facts’. .

And now it’s been reported that Holly played her part in the investigation, insisting she knew nothing about Phillip’s affair, while her friends claimed she had “nothing to hide.”

Holiday fun: Holly spent most of her summer relaxing in Portugal, where she eloped with husband Dan Baldwin and the kids, Harry, 13, Belle, 11, and Chester, eight

A source told The Mirror: ‘Holly was more than happy to do what was asked of her, explaining her point of view, and what she knew and what she didn’t know.’

MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Holly Willoughby for comment.

Jane Mulcahy KC has been brought in to lead the external review of the facts surrounding the scandal and is expected to publish her findings in September.

Holly is said to be one of the people who work at This Morning and helped Jane with her questions.

Meanwhile, senior ITV executives, including boss Kevin Lygo, have also been spoken to during the ongoing investigation.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival this week, the ITV director said: ‘She (Mulcahy) has spoken to everyone involved, they take your phone and look at every text message you’ve ever sent, email, WhatsApp.

“So everything is available, lots of interviews, talking to everyone and I hope as soon as possible, but probably in September she’ll make that public.”

On how ITV is handling the duty of care, he added: ‘We take it, believe me, incredibly seriously.

Gone: The blonde beauty’s summer break came just months after her longtime co-host and best friend Phillip Schofield left the show in the wake of a scandalous fling with a ‘much younger’ colleague (pictured in February)