She refused to turn her back on Phillip last year

ALISON Hammond has shown solidarity with Phillip Schofield as he made a return to social media amid rumours that he might return to This Morning.

After months of silence following his ITV axing the former presenter shared a cute snap of his dog on Instagram.

Alison Hammond favourited a recent Instagram post made by Phillip Schofield
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Alison Hammond favourited a recent Instagram post made by Phillip SchofieldCredit: Rex

There have been rumours that Phillip may come back to This Morning
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There have been rumours that Phillip may come back to This MorningCredit: Rex

Phillip returned to social media over the weekend and shared photos of his dog
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Phillip returned to social media over the weekend and shared photos of his dog

He enjoyed a day on the water with his cockapoo Alfie
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He enjoyed a day on the water with his cockapoo Alfie
The snaps showed Phillip’s chocolate cockapoo Alfie, who he bought in February with wife Stephanie buying another from the same litter.

This Morning presenter Alison, who also hosts For The Love Of Dogs, shared her solidarity by liking the photos on Instagram.

The post was one of a handful Phillip has shared since he his axe from This Morning 12 months ago over his affair with a younger co-worker.

Alison was on hosting duties last year on the day This Morning was tasked with reacting to Phillip’s exit.

She told viewers: “What he’s done is wrong, he’s admitted it, he’s said sorry. But as a family we’re all really struggling to process everything. I never know what to say. But I remember what my mum used to say.

“My mum always said, ‘Use your Bible as a satnav in life, Al’. And in the Bible it says, ‘He without sin, cast the first stone’. And I just don’t want to.”

Alison’s public support comes as viewing figures for the ITV daytime programme have tanked ever since Holly Willoughby and Phillip stepped away from being show hosts.

Phillip quit his job and all ITV commitments after it emerged that he had an affair with a young runner at work.

He was still married to his wife Stephanie Lowe at the time of the affair.

The long time presenter referred to the relationship as “unwise, but not illegal”.

Meanwhile Holly took a step back from the show after becoming the victim of an alleged kidnapping plot.

With the average number of people tuning in to This Morning dropping to just 486,000 in a matter of months, rumours have surfaced that Phillip may be asked to return to the channel.

According to The Mirror show bosses are in “crisis talks” after losing about half of their viewers.

A PR expert told the publication: “Schofield has always proven himself to be popular. He’s now proven himself to be flexible and disciplined.

“Attributes that will be absolutely crucial for the likes of ITV in the years ahead, and attributes that ITV showed a total lack of in the way that they handled the initial scandal.

“To put it simply: ITV needs Schofield a whole lot more than Schofield needs ITV.”