This Morning viewers were emotional to see Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield reunite on the show.
The presenters returned to the show on Tuesday (September 1) after two months off over the summer.
At the start of the programme, Holly and Phil shared their first hug in six months but through a ‘cuddle curtain’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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What did Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield say on This Morning?
Opening the show, the duo were wearing face masks which featured their own faces on them.
Holly said: “Obviously you might have noticed something.
“Don’t adjust your TV sets there’s nothing wrong, we’re wearing these very special face masks.
“They are cleverly designed, it says here, to blend to your face… not so sure about that!”
Phil joked: “I can’t actually breathe, I’m a bit short of breath now.”
Speaking about their summer breaks, Phil said: “I did The Cube for the first time in six years.
“It was the best series we’ve ever made.”
Holly added: “[My break was] lovely. Just away with the family. We did just get out of quarantine so I’m like, ‘there’s people around!’ even though I can’t touch you.
“Pretty bad timing but worth it.”
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly were on the programme and were able to sit next to each other and even hug one another.
What did Ant and Dec say?
Explaining why they didn’t have to socially distance, Ant said: “We’re working on BGT at the moment and other things so we get tested every four days.”
Dec said: “So basically our households are connected and we form a co-hort.”
Ant added: “We’ve got to be careful about where we go and who we see but we’ve got each other.”
Holly turned to Phil and said: “So lucky! We’ve come up with quite a good way to be able to hug each other.”
Wondering why Ant & Dec can sit together on the #ThisMorning sofa?
They've been telling us all about their 'cohort'.
Watch the show ➡️https://t.co/RrKzNQupK8 pic.twitter.com/hcCpr7fPVe
— This Morning (@thismorning) September 1, 2020
Holly and Phil share a hug
Phil said: “We had a chat with the team and they managed to create this,” as crew members brought in a ‘cuddle curtain’.
A ‘cuddle curtain’ is made of thick plastic which means two people can put their arms through and hug each other without actually having contact.
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Holly admitted: “If you would have done this this time last year I would have thought you were some sort of weirdo.
“However, this year, I’m all over this. Shall we give it a go? How long has it been since we’ve done this?”
Phil replied: “A long time. April, March.”
The pair then put their arms through and hugged each other.
Becoming emotional, Holly said: “Oh my God. I don’t want to let go!”
Oh my God. I don’t want to let go!
Phil said: “I don’t want to let go. It’s like we’re in prison!”
Viewers were emotional, with one writing on Twitter: “Phil and Holly hugging. We needed that as much as they did.”
Phil and Holly hugging. We needed that as much as they did. ❤️ Should start every show like that. Make us all feel good. 😊 Still a bit jealous though. Can't wait to hug my kids and grandkids again. 😭 @Schofe @hollywills @thismorning #ThisMorning
— Tracey ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 (@Cosmo363) September 1, 2020
Another added: “Why am I feeling quite emotional looking at Phil and Holly hugging with the #CuddleCurtain?”
A third said: “Just watched @Schofe and @hollywills cuddling for the first time and now crying.
“So emotional, loved the cuddle curtain.”
Why am I feeling quite emotional looking at Phil and Holly hugging with the #CuddleCurtain? It has to be hard for people so close to be around but not be able to hug each other. Every family need a cuddle curtain #ThisMorning @thismorning
— Robert Carthy (@CarthyRobbie) September 1, 2020
#ThisMorning Just watched @Schofe and @hollywills cuddling for the first time and now crying 😢 so emotional, loved the cuddle curtain.
— Julie Reed (@julesreed) September 1, 2020
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