Holly Willoughby has effectively been cleared of having any hand in Phillip Schofield's exit from This Morning, with ITV claiming it arose from an agreement between him and bosses.
After a week full of speculation that he could be about to quit the daytime show he;'d hosted for over 21 years, following reports there had been an off camera 'falling out' between him and Holly, Phillip took to Instagram on Saturday to reveal to his many followers that he'd left This Morning with immediate effect, writing: ""I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.
“Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind. I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love."
READ MORE: Phillip and Holly's Dancing on Ice future 'doubtful' as new hosts tipped to take over
He added: "So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future."
Holly issued a swift response to the news, saying she was thankful for Phillip's humour and knowledge' and that the This Morning sofa 'would never been the same," howsever, that did little to quash talk that she had given a 'it's him or me' style ultimatum to bosses, as some viewers accused Holly of 'getting what she wanted.'
ITV have now issued a fresh statement on Phillip''s This Morning departure which attempts to shut that theory down with it reading: "Phillip Schofield’s decision to step down from This Morning was (as his statement made clear) a decision agreed between Phillip and ITV. "
The prospect of Holly and Phillip ever hosting Dancing on Ice has now been called into question, with Stephen Mulhern and Rochelle Humes the respective favourites to replace them.
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