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Celebrity

17th Apr 2023

Holly Willoughby takes time off from This Morning due to the shingles

Clodagh McKeon

Poor Holly.

This Morning presenter, Holly Willoughby has revealed she’s taking a break from the show after being struck down by shingles.

The infection is also known as herpes zoster and it’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus which also causes chickenpox.

It affects 1 in 4 adults in their lifetime and can be extremely painful.

Taking to her Instagram story last night, Holly updated fans and said she’ll probably be out of action for the next week.

She wrote: “Hi.. Just to let you know, I may be away for the rest of the week as I have shingles. I’ll be back as soon as I’m better.

“Huge Love, Holly.”

Shingles is usually contracted when people get chickenpox because the virus doesn’t leave the body.

Instead, it lays dormant in the body’s nervous system for years until it reactivates as shingles.

Shingles can be triggered by stress or a weakened immune system and can cause a painful red rash, tingling in the legs, headaches and just general feelings of being unwell.

Early today, This Morning said The Hit List presenter and former The Saturdays singer, Rochelle Humes will replace Holly and host the show alongside Schofield.

The talk show wrote on Instagram: “Tomorrow at 10am on ITV1 and STV, it’s welcome back after the Easter holidays to Phillip and get better soon to Holly who’s off ill for a few days.

“Phillip and Rochelle have a packed show and a very special live announcement from Alison Hammond around midday.”

Both Holly and co-presenter Phillip, took time off over the Easter break.

Phillip Schofield took a break from This Morning following his brother’s criminal court case just a few weeks ago and extended it into the Easter mid-term break.

Timothy Schofield, who is 54, was charged with 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019.

After the conviction, Phillip disowned him saying he “no longer has a brother”.

Holly and the This Morning team made it clear they were sticking with their colleague through it all.

Related links:

Phillip Schofield’s brother charged with 11 sex abuse offences.

Phillip Schofield’s brother found guilty of sexually abusing teenage boy: “I no longer have a brother”.

Schofield set to extend This Morning absence for several weeks.