Holly Willoughby was accused by former This Morning co-star Eamonn Holmes of ‘faking’ her friendship with Alison Hammond

Holly Willoughby appeared to hit back at Eamonn Holmes’ brutal claims about her friendship with Alison Hammond with a very telling remark on This Morning today.

The 42-year-old returned to the ITV daytime show today alongside host Craig Doyle, who became the second host this week to fill in for Phillip Schofield.

Last week, former This Morning host Eamonn accused Holly of “faking” her friendship with Alison in a bombshell interview, suggesting that their ‘sudden’ friendship “wouldn’t have happened 13 years ago”.

However, Holly seemed to hit back at the claims in a comment sparked by Josie Gibson’s appearance on the ITV show today by the Kennet and Avon canal.

Josie declared: “Stick with us over the next few days because I’m going to be on my own canal boat adventure and tomorrow is Best Friends Day, so my friends better be ready! Got a canal boat waiting for you…”

Holly Willoughby appeared to hit back at Eamonn Holmes’ claims ( 
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ITV)
Holly responded back in the studio: “Aw, enjoy that! Think of all the friends getting on the canal with her. The canals are about to get even more dangerous, Craig!”

Craig asked Josie: “How many of you are going, Jose?”

Josie replied: “Well, I’ve been trying to round them out but Alison can’t make it, Holly’s obviously in the studio, so I’ve got one or two.”

Holly interrupted with a grin: “Alison can’t come because she’s at mine tonight! That’s what I do know!”

It comes after Eamonn previously told Dan Wootton on GB News: “This nonsense about Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond as her best friend and [Holly] was at Alison’s birthday party…Alison Hammond goes to Holly Willoughby’s select nights out with her friends.

Alison was in tears last week over Phillip ( 
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Pixel8000)

Eamonn criticised Holly’s friendship with Alison ( 
Image:
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
“This wouldn’t have happened two years ago. Are you kidding? Alison Hammond has been on the programme 13 years and I’m sure there was very little contact between her and the presenters.

“People just use other people and it’s disgusting.”

Holly returned to This Morning on Monday after an extended two-week break as she issued a statement and finally addressed the scandal involving her former colleague Phillip.

Phillip, 61, initially quit This Morning after 21 years amid rumours of a rift between himself and co-star Holly following a “difficult few days” amid his brother’s court case.

But in a shocking turn, the host was axed completely from ITV – including from his presenting roles on Dancing On Ice and the British Soap Awards – after he admitted to lying about an affair he had with a much younger male colleague.

After his statement, Holly said that she was “hurt” that she had been lied to, while ITV bosses expressed their “deep disappointment” over his “deceit”.Last week, Phillip went on to take part in a series of bombshell interviews in which he declared he is “not a groomer” and addressed his falling out with Holly, revealing that he texted her but never received a response.