Springwatch presenter Michaela Strachan ‘trolls’ Holly Willoughby
She is not known for getting into fights.
But Springwatch fans were convinced that host Michaela Strachan, 57, was playing a prank on Holly Willoughby on Tuesday’s show, which is live.
Holly, 42, was branded melodramatic on This Morning on Monday as she returned to the show in the wake of the Phillip Schofield scandal and addressed the claims.
She said, ‘Okay, take a deep breath. First, are you okay? I hope so.’
And Michaela made a similar statement after a clip of a fox stealing a blackbird chick from a nest.
‘This is a cheeky dig at Holly Willoughby:’ Springwatch’s Michaela Strachan shocked fans when she appeared to be ‘trolling’ the This Morning host about the comeback statement on Monday’s show
Tears: Holly looked visibly emotional as she addressed the cameras with a monologue about her former best friend Phillip Schofield on Monday morning
Alongside co-presenter Chris Packham, 62, Michaela said: ‘Everyone was on the edge of their seats watching that, how is everyone feeling?
“There’s a lot to process, isn’t there? Emotions fly in all directions.’
Fans saw the resemblance to Holly’s words and took to Twitter to express their surprise.
They wrote, “Michela Strachan dragging Holly Willoughby on #springwatch was easily the highlight of today.”
“@BBCSpringwatch #michaela uses how you feel much to handle analogy much better and much more relatable than #Holly #thismorning #foxgetsblackbird #fox #blackbird #circleoflife.”
“Did Michaela Just Do a Holly Willoughby with ‘How’s Everyone Feeling? It’s a lot to process’? #SpringWatch.’
“Perhaps a cheeky dig at Holly W? “How do you feel afterwards, it was a lot to process..” #SpringWatch.”
“Was @michaelastracha digging at Holly Willoughby with that “is everyone okay?” remark. I like to think she was #SpringWatch.”
Standing next to co-presenter Chris Packham, Michaela said: ‘Everyone was on the edge of their seats watching that, how does everyone feel? There’s a lot to process, isn’t there? Emotions are all over ‘after a clip of a fox stealing a blackbird chick from a nest
‘Brutal digging!’ Many viewers noticed the moment and took to Twitter to note the observation
Holly’s full statement said it “feels really strange sitting here without Phil and I imagine you may have felt the same way I did.”
“Shaken, alarmed, disappointed, concerned for the well-being of people on all sides of what is going on and full of questions.”
“We all on This Morning gave our love and support to someone who wasn’t telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they should resign from ITV and quit a career they loved. That’s a lot to process.”
She added: “It’s just as hard to see the toll it’s taking on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and well-being of all.
“I hope that as we begin this new chapter and return to a place of warmth and magic that the show has in store for all of us, we can find strength in each other.
And from the heart, I can thank you for all your lovely messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison, Craig and everyone who works on this show will continue to work hard every day.”
TV presenter Phillip spoke to the BBC’s Amol Rajan last week about his affair with a much younger colleague
The calm before the storm: Phillip and Holly on the couch of ITV’s This Morning last month, on May 11
Fall out: Phillip has already apologized to Holly, who hosted This Morning with him for 14 years, for lying about his secret relationship with his colleague (centre) and tarnishing her public image
“I’m fine folks, are you all right?” Giggling Amanda Holden poked fun at Holly’s comeback statement TWCE on Tuesday and mimicked her look in a white ensemble
It comes after Phillip said he had ‘not told anyone’ about his fling with his former This Morning colleague, confirming in a telling interview with BBC’s Amol Rajan that Willoughby ‘didn’t know’.
Holly’s return comes as the ITV show has been plagued with ‘toxicity’ allegations, including from former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes who claimed there was a ‘total cover-up’ over the Schofield affair.
Michaela isn’t the only person accused of fooling Holyly.
And on Tuesday morning, Heart FM presenter Amanda Holden, 52, also joked about Holly’s comeback speech – imitating her speech to This Morning viewers in a video posted on social media.
Amanda posted a video to Instagram of her wearing an angelic white dress similar to Holly’s and said, “Hello, it’s Tuesday. Is everything all right?’
And in case anyone didn’t understand, she had another pop on Holly on the radio.
When she talked about doing the hangover show the day before, co-host Jamie Theakston, 52, asked her how she was feeling.
She said, ‘I came home, went straight to bed with my dog and cat. I got up, cooked the tea and went to bed again at 8 o’clock.
“I did that thing where you wake up at 2 a.m. and you have to talk yourself back to sleep.”
Jamie interjected, “We’re concerned about your well-being,” while speaking to another guest.
Amanda replied, “I’m fine folks, are you all right?” to cluck loudly.