ITV has confirmed that Holly and Phil will be remaining on the This Morning sofa after speculation had been mounting about possible changes. The team of Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield had been seen as rock solid, however rumours had been growing that the pair weren’t on the best of terms.
Now the Mirror has reported that ITV has confirmed that the duo will report for work tomorrow (Monday May 15) as usual after suggestions Holly might not be there. A spokesperson told the Mirror: “Holly and Phillip will be back on the sofa tomorrow.”
It had been reported that Holly was so “upset” about their rumoured feud that she could be absent from work on Monday morning. On Friday Phil has hailed his This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby as his “rock” in an unusual statement.
The presenter recently returned to the show after taking pre-planned leave around his brother’s sex abuse trial at Exeter Crown Court last month. But in a statement, Schofield, 61, said: “As I have said before, Holly is my rock. We’re the best of friends – as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone.
“Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her. The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
In April his younger brother Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child. Willoughby, 42, was also ill and took time off This Morning.
Schofield added: “My family went through a real ordeal, and Holly’s support throughout meant the world to me – as did the support of my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our amazing viewers.
“And of course, Holly has herself been ill with shingles. Whatever happens, we still have each other to count on.”
Schofield has been a regular presenter on This Morning since 2002 alongside hosts including Fern Britton and Amanda Holden. Speaking on Elizabeth Day’s podcast How To Fail in November last year, Holly explained: “If it wasn’t for Phil, I wouldn’t be on This Morning now because everyone around him at the time when he suggested my name, were like, ‘What? No! She might be alright in the fashion bit but there’s no way she could interview the Prime Minister…’”
