Phillip Schofield is said to be weathering the storm and going ahead with presenting This Morning today despite 'calling in top lawyers' to deal with the 'ongoing feud' between him and his co-host Holly Willoughby.
According to a statement Phil made “things haven’t been easy for either of us” and TV insiders say that ITV and Holly think that his public announcement released on Thursday night has made matters worse and supposedly, 'crisis talks' took place over the weekend, however the pair are confirmed to be on the sofa together this morning.
A source told The Sun: "Holly and Phil are professionals and they can turn it on like no one else. Although behind the scenes their relationship is nothing like it was, they are both dedicated to This Morning and keeping it together for viewers."
The 61-year-old has allegedly consulted lawyers over the 'feud' situation, which is said to have been going on for months.
According to The Daily Mail, Phil has hired Gordon Smart, a Scottish journalist and former Sun showbiz columnist to manage the crisis and ensure favourable press coverage. A source told them it's a sign that he's 'taking this very seriously' and is 'keen to come out of the situation quickly'.
A source told the Mirror last week that if viewers don't believe their relationship on screen is genuine, ITV will act fast. They said: “This Morning’s relationship with its viewers is built on trust, and they have to believe that Holly and Phil’s friendship, and what they’re watching, is real. While there was a bit of noise and speculation about their relationship cooling, it could have easily been ignored.
“But by putting this statement out there, he has turned what was a manageable situation into a feeding frenzy. If viewers now no longer believe in the pair, and make their views clear next week, make no mistake, ITV will act.
“Phil’s position is looking increasingly precarious. Monday is very much D-day, but the same could apply to any day next week. No one is bigger than the brand.”
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