Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are set to take a break from This Morning, according to a new report.
Reports suggest Schofield and Willoughby – who have co-hosted the ITV morning show for 14 years – have seen a “cooling” of their friendship in recent weeks, with the pair said to be barely speaking outside of work.
After rumours emerged of a rupture in the relationship, Schofield released a statement that reportedly “blindsided” his co-host.
It’s believed that the daytime duo will be spending some time apart and will be stepping away from hosting duties on the ITV show in just over a week’s time, as per MailOnline.
Although their break does coincide with half-term, which The Standard understands is when the pair are usually off-screen.
The Standard has contacted Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s rep for comment.
On Thursday, it was reported that This Morning is facing a ratings crisis amid the flagship hosts alleged feud.
Monday saw the ITV daytime show drop an almost unprecedented 20 per cent to 724,000 compared to the same day last week.
While Tuesday’s episode did slightly better, with an average of 663,000 viewers, yesterday’s attracted only 551,000 – down from 647,000 on Wednesday last week. The peak viewership also reduced significantly, from 905,000 to 683,000.
Schofield, 61, is said to be resisting calls to quit despite his popularity with the show’s viewers taking a hit following his fall out with former best friend Willoughby, 42.
A number of famous faces have weighed in on the dispute, including Scottish TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.
The 63-year-old presenter of ITV’s Lorraine said she thought it would be “sad” if either Schofield or Willoughby walked away and thought it “unlikely”.
“I would be sad if they left the show but I don’t think that is ever likely to happen and I think they’re just getting on with it,” she told The Sun.
Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes, 63, was of a different opinion, however, and launched a blistering attack on Schofield and Willoughby.
Speaking on GB News, he insisted that regardless of who was presenting the show, it would continue with or without them.
He said: “They may or may not be together on the telly today. The public surely will suss that there’s no chemistry, that it’s a broken fit between the two of them and that This Morning does not depend on who presents it.
“It’s an institution, it will carry on no matter who presents it and anyone can check the viewing figures, there’s no difference between whether they present it or anyone else.”
