Phillip Schofield looked grim-faced as he walked to work on This Morning following reports of a long-running ‘feud’ with co-presenter Holly Willoughby.
The 61-year-old TV star appeared tense as he turned up at the ITV studios in London on Tuesday morning.
It comes after This Morning bosses are said to be in ‘crisis talks’ over what to do with Holly and Phil following reports of a rift.
Holly and Phil have been pals and co-presenters for 17 years, but it has been suggested the besties are no longer talking off camera and have recently been avoiding each other at parties.
Holly is also said to have been ‘blindsided’ when Phil issued a statement on their friendship following claims the pair are ‘barely speaking’ when the cameras stop rolling.
Describing Holly as his ‘rock’, the 61-year-old TV presenter still called her his ‘best friend’ saying: “She is an incredible support 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.”
But it has emerged Holly had no idea Phil was going to speak publicly about their rumoured rift and is said to be ‘deeply upset’ by it.
After presenting This Morning alone, sources say Holly is looking to branch out on her own and has realised she no longer needs Phil as her sidekick.
It follows a series of issues in recent months, including the backlash against them over ‘queue gate’ and Holly’s alleged upset at not being aware Phil’s brother was up in court for child sex charges, which he was later found guilty of.
A source has now told New magazine there have been ‘tensions between Holly and Phil for months’.
The insider added: “They recently went to Keith Lemon’s birthday party and didn’t talk all night.
“Holly also presented This Morning with Alison Hammond and it made her realise she’s her own person and doesn’t need Phil by her side. They’re not Ant and Dec.”
Back in 2019 their working relationship is said to have become ‘strained’ with reports Phil was ‘jealous’ Holly had replaced Ant McPartlin on the 2018 series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.
It was claimed Phil had banned Holly from speaking about her other successful shows on This Morning and that he wasn’t happy a photo spread in a weekend newspaper had focused on Holly and not him.
Tensions were also said to have increased when Holly allegedly banned Phillip from posting videos of her drinking alcohol on his social media - and apparently asked her management company to break the news.
At the time ITV was forced to issue a statement, describing reports of a feud as ‘malicious gossip’.
Despite Holly and Phil previously denying any feud between them - and saying they would both quit This Morning if they were asked to present without the other - things appear to have shifted in recent weeks.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed Holly has seemingly wiped Phillip from her social media.
In her Twitter bio she had previously written: "I was introduced to this by a Twitter legend," before tagging her presenting partner.
Her Twitter bio now reads: "Broadcaster, Founder of Wyldemoon, Brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer and Garnier, Author of Reflections” - something that didn't slip past her and Phil's viewers.
Over the weekend, the Mirror exclusively revealed Phil publicly speaking out on their 17-year friendship had actually made things worse.
The Mirror has contacted reps for Holly and Phil for further comment on this story.
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