Phillip Schofield, co-host of the popular daytime show This Morning, has announced his immediate resignation amidst reports of an ongoing feud with his long-time colleague Holly Willoughby. Speculations about their strained relationship have been circulating in the media in recent weeks, leading to Schofield’s decision.
In a statement released on Saturday, the 61-year-old presenter acknowledged the persistent rumors and expressed his disappointment that “This Morning has become the story.” He mentioned that ITV, the broadcaster, has decided that the current situation cannot continue, making the last Thursday’s episode his final appearance on the show.
Schofield has been part of This Morning for over 20 years, sharing the hosting duties with Willoughby for 13 of those years. While Willoughby will continue as a presenter alongside other members of the This Morning family, Schofield will still be involved with ITV, hosting the British Soap Awards in June and working on a new prime-time series.
The duo of Schofield and Willoughby has been widely celebrated for their easy chemistry and relaxed presenting style, leading to the show’s consecutive wins of five National Television Awards for the best daytime show. They have become synonymous with British light entertainment, affectionately known as “Holly and Phil.”
However, their public image took a hit last year when they were criticized for allegedly jumping the queue to pay their respects to the late queen lying in state in Westminster Hall. Additionally, both presenters have faced personal challenges in recent weeks, with Schofield’s brother being convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable teenage boy and Willoughby needing time off to recover from illness.
Schofield had previously tried to address the rumors and reaffirm his close bond with Willoughby, calling her his rock. But the intensifying speculation about their strained relationship eventually led to his decision to step down. In his statement, Schofield expressed his desire to protect the show and allow it to move forward to a bright future.
Willoughby, in response to Schofield’s resignation, expressed her gratitude for his knowledge, experience, and humor, and acknowledged that the sofa won’t be the same without him. ITV’s managing director, Kevin Lygo, thanked Schofield for his two decades of service and praised him as one of the best broadcasters of his generation. The network looks forward to their continued collaboration, starting with the British Soap Awards in June and a new peak-time series.
Despite Schofield’s efforts to dispel the rumors, his statement to The Sun weeks prior only served to further highlight the alleged problems between him and Willoughby. The decision for him to step down from This Morning marks a significant change for the popular show, leaving fans curious about what the future holds.
