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Sky News interrupt war report to bring Holly Willoughby news live from Jerusalem

Sky News has been criticised over their decision to interrupt a war report from the Middle East to bring viewers the news that Holly Willoughby had quit This Morning.

Mark Austin’s dispatch from Jerusalem was cut short as the presenter suddenly relayed the news of Holly’s departure from the ITV show with the sacred holy city in the background.

The death toll in Israel has reached more than 1,000 following the massacre in the Middle East.

The Hamas incursion is by far the deadliest militant attack in Israeli history.

Responding to the Sky News report, that was also posted on social media, one person described it as being worthy of the dystopian show Black Mirror.

Another sarcastically wrote: “Breaking news for you on Sky News tonight, we go to John live in a war-torn Jerusalem” ‘Yes, ground breaking news coming in guys.. Holly Willoughby calls it a day from a British day-time TV show” as another wrote: “This has to be satire.”

While a third put: “There’s a war going on and the reporter in Jerusalem is yacking on about some daytime tv personality. Ridiculous”.

Holly wrote in a statement shared to her Instagram page: “I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so, so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together.

“Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You’ve been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day. Richard and Judy said ‘we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers’. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive.

“To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. It’s been an honour to just be part of it’s story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family. “I will miss you all so much.”

Related: BBC blasted for ‘cold and callous’ row with Palestinian ambassador

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

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