Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary paid tribute to their former This Morning colleague Phillip Schofield today - in a statement which lasted 35 seconds.
The pair are presenting the show after the father-of-two quit, 61, on Saturday following his reported feud with former co-host Holly Willoughby, 42.
Holly, who is taking time off from the programme, released her statement about Phil on Saturday, but today Alison, 48, kicked off the show with a tribute from 'everyone at This Morning'.
She said: "Now we can't start today's show without paying tribute to the man who has spent the last two decades sitting on this sofa – Phillip Schofield."
Dermot continued: "Everyone on and off the screen at ITV and This Morning want to say a huge thank you to Phil for what he's done to make this show a success over the last 21 years."
Alison concluded: "Quite simply we all know he's one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had and we, and all the team, wish him all the best for the future."
Dermot confirmed Holly was taking a break for half term and would be back in the studio in two weeks.
This Morning viewers were somewhat confused by the 'insincere' tribute with some saying it sounded like 'someone had died.'
One tweeted: "Dermot looks like he's announcing that someone died talking about Schofield leaving #ThisMorning."
While another quipped: "That was an awful goodbye segment. After 20 years all Scofe gets is a 2 minute tribute at the beginning not at all awkward #ThisMorning."
Phillip is said to be 'broken' after stepping down from the show he fronted for more than 20 years.
A source told The Sun : "He thinks the way he was forced to step down was so unjust and he feels completely broken by how this situation has been handled.
"This Morning was Phil’s life and now he feels he has been knifed without proper consultation."
In his statement released on Saturday Phil said he understood "ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on" after lamenting the fact This Morning had "become the story".
Phil made no mention of Holly when he announced he'd quit, however, the Wylde Moon guru did mention him in an Instagram post - with a pink heart - as soon as he stepped down, saying: "It's been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him."
