Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield took part in a lively debate on This Morning on Wednesday on the subject of breastfeeding in public. The two hosts welcomed two guests into the studio to discuss a recent story about retail manager Sheldon Sparks who publicly shamed a mother on social media for enjoying a glass of wine in a pub while breastfeeding her baby. Sharing that same opinion was Nilufer Atik, who agreed that it was an inappropriate place to nurse a child, while Natalie Brown felt that complaints like Sheldon's "reinforced the idea that breastfeeding isn't normal". She added: "Women shouldn't be judged or made to feel like they are doing something wrong."
Mum-of-three Holly supported her views. "It's to feed her child," she said. "I understand if you were out with your breast out that would be different. Breastfeeding is not that easy! It's difficult. Some babies can't feed under a cloth because they don't like being in the dark. It's not that easy. I don't think it's that easy." Phillip added: "It's not that difficult to avert your eye. Sheldon should grow up."
Holly and Phil, pictured at the NTAs, defended mums who breastfeed in public
Many viewers tuning in at home agreed with Holly and Phil, and praised the duo for speaking out. "Yes! @hollywills defending and normalising breastfeeding mums. They shouldn't have to be isolated in an already difficult time," one wrote, with another adding: "@thismorning completely agree with @hollywills don’t look! Breastfeeding is natural. And some babies won’t have express bottles." A third commented: "It is 100 per cent legal to breastfeed in public. How can people feel uncomfortable about something so natural #ThisMorning."
It comes five months after fans praised Sam Faiers for breastfeeding her son Paul live on the show. The former TOWIE star had been running late for her interview, and when the segment got underway, she was seen sitting on the sofa nursing Paul, with a blanket over her shoulder to cover him. Before they started chatting, Phillip said: "We've got to point out in case you think we're saying, 'Cover the baby up', this is Sam's choice to do this."