Inside Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s friendship – from co-stars to ‘fall out’ | Celebrity News | Showbiz and TV

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield once held a place in the hearts of millions as one of Britain’s most adored TV duos, with fans eagerly waking up every morning to their easy chemistry on This Morning.

But Holly and Phillip’s era on the iconic ITV daytime show came to an abrupt end when Holly shocked viewers by announcing her resignation after months of speculation. It followed Phillip’s sudden departure last year amid his inappropriate affair with a younger colleague.

The pair not only co-hosted This Morning but also presented Dancing On Ice together, cementing their status as one of TV’s most formidable double acts.

However, following Phillip’s dramatic exit in May, Holly made the difficult decision to leave after facing an alleged kidnapping plot.

For months, there have been persistent whispers of tension between the former co-stars, with insiders suggesting a “breakup” behind the scenes. Now, with Phillip gearing up for a surprise TV comeback, we take a look back at the rise and fall of their friendship, through the good, the bad and the ugly.

Jealousy

In 2019, reports surfaced that Holly and Phillip’s once-close working relationship had become “strained”, with claims suggesting Phillip felt “jealous” of Holly’s success after stepping in for Ant McPartlin in the series from 2018 on I’m A Celebrity. get me out of here Holly’s stint on the show was so well received that it won her a coveted BAFTA, which reportedly caused tension between the pair.

Sources claimed Phillip was unhappy with the attention Holly received, going so far as to forbid him from mentioning the BAFTA win when they reunited on This Morning. An insider told The Sun: “Phillip was furious. He didn’t want Holly to mention her triumph when they reunited on This Morning. He felt very petty and bitter for someone who is his close friend. But he felt like he was jealous.”

It was also reported that Holly asked Phillip to stop posting videos of her drinking on social media, using their management team to get the message across. However, This Morning bosses have denied the row, saying Phillip and Holly share a “genuine friendship”. ITV issued a statement calling the rumors “deeply disappointing” and reaffirming their strong bond, saying: “Holly and Phil are great friends both on and off screen and are popular with viewers and colleagues alike.”

Holly later addressed the rumors on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, saying: ‘I watched from afar when you saw all the press saying you and Phillip are going through a tough time. Meanwhile, you are great friends there too. there were no arguments.”

Betrayal

Despite their long-standing friendship, it was reported that Phillip Schofield kept Holly Willoughby unaware of personal issues involving his brother. Timothy Schofield was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenager, with Phillip taking time away from This Morning during the ordeal.

Holly, who has been a close confidante and colleague for many years, reportedly learned about the situation from another source.

However, fans were left baffled when, shortly after Phillip’s return to the show, Holly Willoughby was absent for a week with shingles.

An insider told the Daily Mail: “Holly had to find out from someone else, which must have been awful for her. She was so loyal to him.”

The timing of Holly’s absence sparked further speculation about the pair’s relationship, with many wondering if there was more to the story behind the scenes.

Admission of the business

Just days after his abrupt departure from This Morning, Phillip Schofield has made a shocking confession, admitting he had an affair with a younger co-star on the show. The revelation saw him dropped by his talent agency, YMU, and walk away from all ITV commitments with immediate effect.

Holly Willoughby took to social media to break her silence, expressing her grief over the situation. She wrote: “It took time to process yesterday’s news. When news of this relationship first came out, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it wasn’t. It was very painful to find out now that this was a lie. Holly.”

In a series of interviews, Phillip revealed that he contacted Holly after the news broke, but did not receive a response. “The last time we had a conversation was when I texted Holly and said, ‘Don’t reply, you’re probably not allowed to, but I’m deeply sorry for lying to you.’

After a short break, Holly returned to This Morning and addressed the audience: “You and I and everyone on This Morning offered our love and support to someone who wasn’t telling the truth… I hope that as we start this new chapter, we can find strength in each other.”

The Co-Star Reaction

As Phillip Schofield’s exit from This Morning unfolded, many of ITV’s biggest stars remained silent on the matter. However, former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts during an appearance on the GB News breakfast show. He didn’t mince words, declaring: “I think there should have been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors” and suggesting “there was a match between those two”.

Following Phillip’s resignation, Eamonn hit back again, saying: ‘Oh please stop it. He was fired. All this “I’ve decided to quit” nonsense. I’m sure you did – here’s your P45, now resign.”

ITV’s managing director of media and entertainment Kevin Lygo responded, paying tribute to Phillip’s work on the show: “Phillip is undoubtedly one of the finest broadcasters of his generation and we thank him for his two decades absolutely great television on his show. This morning couch.”

This morning, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary took a moment to pay tribute to Phillip. Alison kicked off the show by saying: “Now we can’t start today’s show without paying tribute to the man who has spent the last two decades sitting on the This Morning sofa, Phillip Schofield.”

Dermot continued by adding: “So as a show, everyone on and off the screen at ITV and this morning, I want to say a massive thank you to Phil for what he’s done to make this show such a success high in the last 21 years. .”

Distancing

Before Phillip Schofield’s exit from This Morning was confirmed, fans were already starting to notice subtle signs that Holly Willoughby was distancing herself from her long-time co-host. Eagle-eyed followers noticed that Holly had quietly removed references to Phillip from her social media profiles. Her Twitter bio once included the line, “I was introduced by a Twitter legend,” tagging Phillip. Now her bio simply reads: “Broadcaster, founder of Wyldemoon, brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer and Garnier, author of Reflections.”

Behind the scenes, Holly was rumored to have pressed ITV for clarity on the future of the show, particularly regarding Phillip’s position. Sources suggested she was keen to rebrand herself as a ‘woman’s woman’ and was keen for resolution.

A source told The Mirror: “Holly was considering her position on the show earlier this year as she couldn’t see Phil being axed. But that is now a real possibility and he wants to see a decision made about the future of both. quickly.”

The insider continued at the time: “That’s what’s behind Holly asking her team to contact ITV – she’s trying to move things forward. There hasn’t been a bloodbath date yet, but that could happen. The sooner that happens, the sooner it can rebrand itself.”

Shock statement

Phillip Schofield tried to quash rumors of a rift between him and Holly Willoughby in a statement to The Sun, in which he praised her unwavering support during a difficult time. Referring to her as ‘his rock’, Phillip said: ‘The last few weeks have not been easy for either of us. My family has been through a real trial. And Holly’s support meant the world to me, as did his. my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our amazing viewers.”

Phillip highlighted their strong bond, saying Holly has been by his side through ‘thick and thin’. However, despite his public show of unity, Holly was left feeling “blindsided” and “deeply upset” by Phillip’s decision to address the rumors without consulting her. According to insiders, she didn’t know he planned to speak publicly about the state of their friendship.

A source went on to claim that the statement was seen as “desperate stuff” on Phillip’s part, given the state of their relationship at the time. Holly, in particular, has not responded publicly.

The tribute is missing

When Phillip Schofield made the surprise announcement that he would be quitting This Morning, his statement did not specifically mention co-host of over 13 years, Holly Willoughby.

In his statement, Phillip said: “I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story. Throughout my career in television – including the last few very difficult days – I have always done my best to be honorable and kind. I understand that ITV have decided that the current situation cannot continue and I want to do everything I can to protect the show I love.”

He continued: “So I have agreed to stand down from This Morning with immediate effect in the hope that the show can move forward into a bright future. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me – especially the amazing viewers of This Morning – and I’ll see you all next month at the Soap Awards.”

Fans quickly took to social media to express their surprise at Holly’s omission from the farewell, with one commenting: “I work with someone so long and no mention of him in your statement…”

Meanwhile, Holly took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to Phillip, writing: ‘Hi everyone… It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all his knowledge, his experience and humor just won’t feel the same without him.”