Holly Willoughby returned to her role as the Queen Bee of ITV on the This Morning sofa on Monday after her eight-week summer break to present alongside Alison Hammond.

The TV host, 42, has taken her annual summer break, during which a slew of stand-ins have fronted the show.

However, many viewers at home were displeased by her comeback, and voiced their preference for other presenters such as Rochelle Humes and Josie Gibson, with some even saying Alison should present on her own.

One called her break away from the show ‘refreshing’, while others said that it had given ITV bosses the perfect opportunity for a ‘fresh start’.

And with the National Television Awards coming on Tuesday night, some fans commented that they hoped the show would not win in light of their scandal-filled year.

She’s back! Holly Willoughby returned to her role as the Queen Bee of ITV on the This Morning sofa on Monday after her eight-week summer break to present alongside Alison Hammond

Not impressed: However, many viewers at home were displeased by her comeback, and voiced their preference for other presenters such as Rochelle Humes and Josie Gibson, with some even saying Alison should present on her own

One fan tweeted: ‘I really preferred Andy and Rochelle presenting #ThisMorning really have a new fun feel to the show and I loved that they got crew involved. Sad to see them not on my tv this morning.’

Another asked: ‘Why can’t we have Josie and Craig presenting full time?’ while a third demanded: ‘Get Rochelle back on’.

A fourth made their feelings clear, as they wrote: ‘#thismorning hoped this day wouldn’t come. Don’t believe they didn’t take the opportunity for a fresh start’.

A fifth echoed: ‘Has a tv show been any more hated than this one?? Summer so refreshing without Holly.’ 

While a sixth commented: ‘Make Alison Hammond host and boot out Holly Willoughby’. 

A seventh blasted: ‘Is Holly announcing that she’s leaving itv??? No?? Oh that is a shame.’

And an eighth declared: ‘NTA’s tomorrow – will love it so much if #thismorning don’t win’.

But others came to Holly’s defence and praised her return, with one person writing: ‘Love these 2!!! Finally can enjoy this #thismorning again. Jealous trolls just stop.’

Displeased: One called her break away from the show ‘refreshing’, while others said that it had given ITV bosses the perfect opportunity for a ‘fresh start’.

And another agreed, tweeting out: ‘Welcome back @hollywills #thismorning’ and a third echoed: ‘#thismorning loving Alison and Holly presenting together’.

Holly took to her Instagram ahead of the show to display her outfit and to express her excitement to be returning.

She wrote: ‘And just like that… it’s back to school… can’t wait to see you!!! @thismorning’.

It hasn’t been a good year for This Morning after the Philip Schofield scandal earlier in May left the programme in turmoil. 

Bosses reportedly fear the scandal will negatively affect their chance of winning the Best Daytime Show for the 13th year in a row at the NTAs this week.

The morning TV show is up against ITV sister show Loose Women, quiz favourite The Chase and BBC’s The Repair Shop for the prestigious award. 

After presenting the show for 21 years, Philip resigned from This Morning back in May before admitting he had had a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on the show, and later lying about it. 

In a bombshell statement to the Daily Mail, the veteran TV presenter admitted that he and the man began a relationship that was more than a friendship. The ex-TV presenter describes this as ‘unwise but not illegal’.

Supporters: But others came to Holly’s defence and praised her return, with one person writing: ‘ Love these 2!!! Finally can enjoy this #thismorning again. Jealous trolls just stop’

 

Comeback: Holly took to her Instagram ahead of the show to display her outfit and to express her excitement to be returning

Schofield further confessed that he lied to his employer ITV, to his colleagues, his friends and his agents at the management firm YMU.

The scandal created a state of disarray for the show, with it triggering ongoing allegations of a toxic culture behind the scenes of the show. 

The claims come after it was revealed that Holly is finally the undisputed queen of ITV after the show revealed their new trailer. 

After the summer off, the new clip shows Holly smiling for the cameras as she prepares to take to the famous This Morning sofa.

The choice of showing the presenter on her own is a clear message that she is ‘Queen Bee’, ITV insiders say.

One told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Holly is the future and ITV wanted to make that clear. It’s a sure sign that she is at the helm and the other presenters will join her.

It’s a brand new start for This Morning, the scandal could have destroyed it but it has managed to keep going. There is a lot of excitement.’

Holly appears twice in the trailer, which also advertises Good Morning Britain, Lorraine and Loose Women.

Her solo appearance in the trailer comes in stark contrast to promotional material of previous years, which showed her standing alongside Schofield as the joint stars of This Morning.

Drama: It hasn’t been a good year for the show after the Philip Schofield scandal earlier in May left the programme in turmoil (pictured on show in May)

Not-so happy family: Toxic allegations have surrounded the show in the latter months suggesting the show won’t bag Best Daytime Show at this year’s NTAs (This Morning cast pictured at the awards in 2020)