Alison Hammond opened up This Morning on Monday with a statement about Phillip Schofield, who agreed to step down over the weekend after two decades hosting alongside Holly Willoughby. The sudden departure came after days of speculation that the relationship between Phil and Holly had broken down.
It was fuelled by time off taken by Holly due to ill health, and Phil as his brother stood trial on child sex offences.
Speaking this morning at the start of the show, alongside co-host Dermot O'Leary, Alison said: "We all know he’s one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had."
Dermot said: “Everyone on and off screen at ITV and This Morning want to say a huge thank you to Phil for what he’s done to make the show such a success over the last 21 years.”
Alison added: "We and all the team wish him all the best for the future."
Dermot explained Holly will return to the show in June.
In the months leading up to his departure from This Morning, Phillip Schofield has faced a number of controversies.
On Saturday, it was announced the 61-year-old was stepping down from presenting the ITV talk show with “immediate effect” after more than 20 years on the programme.
However, he has been at the centre of numerous headlines recently due to reports of a rift with his long-time co-host Holly Willoughby, his brother’s sex abuse trial and furore over his visit to the late Queen’s lying in state.
Reports began last week that the TV presenter and Willoughby were barely speaking off-camera.
Following press coverage that their relationship had come under strain, Schofield hailed Willoughby as his “rock” in a statement to The Sun.
He 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.”
Despite the speculation, the duo put on a united front during the show this week and made no reference to stories in the press about their relationship.
The reports came after Schofield took pre-planned leave from the ITV show around his brother’s sex abuse trial at Exeter Crown Court last month.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield (Ian West/PA)
Former civilian police worker 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.
In a statement released by his lawyer after the guilty verdict, the former This Morning host said: “My overwhelming concern is and has always been for the wellbeing of the victim and his family. I hope that their privacy will now be respected.
“If any crime had ever been confessed to me by my brother, I would have acted immediately to protect the victim and their family.
“These are despicable crimes, and I welcome the guilty verdicts. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.”
The TV duo had presented the show together since 2009 and also co-host ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
ITV will make further announcements on the ice-skating competition’s presenting line-up in due course ahead of its return to screens in January 2024, the PA news agency understands.
Last September, TV pair Schofield and Willoughby also faced a backlash over claims they skipped the queue for the Queen’s lying in state.
Following an online outcry, the chief executive of ITV, Dame Carolyn McCall, said the pair had been “misrepresented” over the issue and stressed they had been attending as members of the media to film a segment for This Morning.
Following Schofield’s departure, ITV has said Willoughby will remain on the show and will “co-present with members of the This Morning family”.
Holly Willoughby will return to the sofa on Monday, June 5
