Watch Phillip Schofield’s final sign off from This Morning
Holly Willoughby has thanked her outgoing co-star Phillip Schofield for “13 great years presenting” after he announced he was leaving This Morning with immediate effect following a reported feud between the pair.
In a short statement after Schofield announced his departure, Willoughby thanked her former colleague for “all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.” She added: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”
Schofield, 61, will not return to co-host the morning talk show. with last Thursday’s show being his last.
Willoughby will remain on the show and will “co-present with members of the This Morning family”, ITV said. However, Metro.co.uk reports that the broadcaster said she will take a break during the halftime, returning on Monday 5 June.
Schofield’s departure comes amid reports of a rift between Schofield and Willoughby, and after his brother, Timothy Schofield, was sentenced to 12 years in jail on Friday, after being convicted of child sex offences.
Meanwhile, ITV star Amanda Holden appeared to take a swipe at Schofield’s exit on Instagram just moments after he announced his departure.
Holly Willoughby issues statement thanking outgoing co-star
Holly Willoughby has thanked her outgoing co-star for “13 great years presenting” after he announced he was leaving This Morning show with immediate effect following a reported feud between the pair.
In a short statement after Mr Schofield announced his departure, Ms Willoughby thanked her former colleague for “all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.”
She added: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”
(Instagram)
Matt Mathers21 May 2023 07:26
What happened to Holly and Phil? Here’s everything we know about their rumoured feud
Roisin O’Connor21 May 2023 12:46
Was that a sly dig from Eamonn Holmes?
Shortly after the news broke that Schofield was quitting This Morning with immediate effect, Eamonn Holmes, who previously launched a tirade against the ITV host and his former colleague Holly Willoughby, appeared to reference it in a Twitter post.
Holmes, who left This Morning in 2022 after 15 years on the programme alongside his wife, Ruth Langsford, has made no attempt to hide his criticism of the duo who replaced him.
Sharing a sweet photo of his granddaughter, Emilia, he added the caption: “Pappa got a smacker Thank u Emilia. All in all that rounded off what turned out to be a good day.”
Many fans were quick to assume that the “good day” might have had something to do with Schofield’s announcement.
Roisin O’Connor21 May 2023 12:01
His last time presenting the ITV programme was on Thursday 18 May, bringing his presenting role of 21 years to a sudden close.
Here’s what we know about the rumoured fallout between Schofield and Willoughby:
Roisin O’Connor21 May 2023 11:31
What Phillip Schofield said about his relationship with Holly Willoughby
ITV bosses were reportedly unhappy with Phillip Schofield’s extroardinary statement addressing rumours of an ongoing feud with his now-former This Morning co-host, Holly Willoughby.
Here’s a reminder of what he said at the time:
Roisin O’Connor21 May 2023 10:54
Did Amanda Holden just throw shade at Phillip Scofield?
Amanda Holden fans think the Britain’s Got Talent judge just took a swipe at Phillip Schofield, following his dramatic exit from ITV show This Morning.
Just minutes after Schofield announced he was leaving the show “with immediate effect”, Holden posted a picture of the “triumphant” emoji, showing an arm flexing its muscles, to her Instagram account.
Holden has previously appeared to express her dislike for Schofield, apparently blaming him for scuppering her chances of hosting This Morning while Willoughby was presenting I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in Australia.
Schofield said that any claim he played a role in Holden missing out on the gig as “malicious gossip”.
Holden previously took a swipe at Schofield after the infamous queuegate scandal, making a sly “get in line” dig while praising David Beckham for queueing for hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.
Roisin O’Connor21 May 2023 10:05
Holly Willoughby to take a break from This Morning after Phillip Schofield exit
Holly Willoughby will take a break from presenting This Morning before she returns to take over the programme as its sole full-time host, ITV has said.
Metro.co.uk reports that ITV has confirmed Willoughby will return to the show on Monday 5 June, having taken an early half-term holiday that will begin on Monday 22 May.
ITV is expected to announce who will host the programme in the interim in due course.
The news comes after Willoughby shared a brief statement to her Instagram Story acknowledging Schofield’s departure. Schofield did not mention his former co-host in his own statement announcing that he was leaving the show with “immediate effect”.
Roisin O’Connor21 May 2023 08:54
What we know about the Holly-Phil ‘feud’
His last time presenting the ITV programme was on Thursday 18 May, bringing his presenting role of 21 years to a sudden close.
Here’s what we know about the rumoured fallout between Schofield and Willoughby:
Roisin O’Connor21 May 2023 08:47
OPINION: My sympathies lie with Holly and Phil – I broke up with my ‘Work Wife’ and it broke my heart
Everyone needs a “work spouse”.
You start out as friends but pretty soon you are sharing pointed looks, finishing each other’s sandwiches and are, from the moment you walk through that office door in the morning, joined at the hip.
Read more from Katie Edwards here:
Nick Ferris21 May 2023 04:15
Schofield’s resignation comes days after he issued an “extraordinary statement” in bid to shore up his position
Last saturday (13 May), Phillip Schofield issued an unprecedented statement in which he admitted “the last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
At the time, he continued to insist that Holly Willoughby was his “rock”.
You can read more about the state of play just one week ago here:
Nick Ferris21 May 2023 03:15
