This morning’s Holly Willoughby and Dermot O’Leary squirm as Gino D’Acampo asks “any news?”

Holly Willoughby and Dermot O’Leary squirmed on Tuesday’s episode of This Morning.

The duo were visibly uncomfortable when Chef Gino D’Acampo asked if there was any “news” he should be aware of, during his return to the daytime show, after a month-long tour of Italy.

It comes after former co-presenter Phillip Schofield quit ITV altogether, admitting to having an affair with a much younger male This Morning colleague.

While previewing his cooking segment, Gino told Holly and Dermot, “Everything is under control. I’m back.

“Any news from the past month I should know? Is there anything I should know?’ to which Holly insisted, ‘No. No news,” as the studio went remarkably quiet.

Awkward: The duo were visibly uncomfortable when chef Gino D’Acampo asked if there was any “news” he should know, during his return to the show, after a month-long tour of Italy

Eek: No. No news,’ Holly insisted as the studio grew noticeably quiet

Gino replied, “Okay, then we can start cooking right away…” before pausing to ask, “Why isn’t anyone talking anymore, what happened?”

Dermot joked: “We need to rephrase, Gino is back for a one-off…”

Viewers who took to social media were quick to notice the interaction, with one tweeting, “Gino never disappoints, making Dermot and Holly a little squirm to make light of the Phil saga #ThisMorning.”

Studio fell silent when Gino said ‘any news while I’m out’ #itvthismorning #ThisMorning,” someone else wrote, as another admitted: “Absolutely pmsl on @Ginofantastico on #Thismorning any news???? #Gino.’

“Well, Gino doesn’t disappoint, does he?” “I’ve been in Italy for a month, is there any news I should know?” Que poor Holly looks uncomfortable. #this morning,” added another fan.

Someone else tweeted, “Gino is a legend when he just asked” has been news since I’ve been gone “GINO GINO GINO #ThisMorning.”

Gino’s awkward question comes almost a month after former This Morning host Phillip Schofield admitted to dating a much younger man who worked with him on the show, and later lied about it.

Joker: “We should rephrase, Gino is back for a one-off…” Dermot joked

Fan response: Viewers quickly took notice of the interaction on social media

Phillip further confessed to lying to his employer ITV, to his colleagues, his friends and his agents at the management firm YMU.

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

In his fawning apology, Phillip said, “I am making this statement through the Daily Mail, to whom I have already personally apologized for being misled, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story [sic] that they wanted to write about me a few days ago.

“The first thing I want to say is, I am deeply sorry that I lied to them and to many others about a relationship I had with someone who worked on This Morning. I did have a consensual on and off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.

Contrary to speculation, while I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him get on television, it wasn’t until after he started working on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It’s over now…

“I am painfully aware that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore to the public and especially my family. I am very sorry, just like that I have been unfaithful to my wife…

“I resign from ITV with immediate effect and express my immense gratitude to them for all the wonderful opportunities they have given me.

“I will reflect on my very poor judgment in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.”

The Mail is aware of the younger man’s identity but has chosen not to name him.

Phillip’s extraordinary statement marks the end of weeks of increasingly feverish speculation in both the TV industry and the wider country about the future of his career following his sudden departure from This Morning bank earlier this month.