Phillip Schofield to leave This Morning ‘with
immediate effect’
News comes after reports of tension between Schofield
and his co-presenter Holly Willoughby
Will the
Phil and Holly saga put an end to the absurd notion of the TV couple?
Kevin
Rawlinson
Sat 20 May
2023 15.19 BST
Phillip
Schofield is stepping down as co-host of This Morning “with immediate effect”,
he has announced amid reports of a developing feud with Holly Willoughby.
Rumours of
growing tension between the pair have swirled in recent weeks, with various
media stories on the increasingly strained relationship between the hosts.
In a
statement released on Saturday afternoon, Schofield, 61, referenced the
sustained speculation, lamenting the fact “This Morning has become the story”.
“I understand ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on,” he added.
Last Thursday’s episode will now be his last.
Schofield
hosted the daytime magazine show for more than 20 years, sharing a sofa with
Willoughby for 13 of those. Willoughby, 42, will remain as a presenter, ITV
announced, alongside “members of the This Morning family”. In response to
Schofield’s resignation, Willoughby said “the sofa won’t feel the same without
him”.
Schofield
will continue working for the broadcaster, ITV’s statement added, including
hosting the British Soap Awards in June and a “brand new peak time series to
come”.
This
Morning has won five National Television Awards for best daytime show in a row,
thanks in large part to the perceived easy chemistry and laid-back presenting
style of Schofield and Willoughby. The pair had even been granted the rarest of
colloquial honours for British light entertainment personalities, being known
simply by their first names – “Holly and Phil”.
But the
pair fell foul of public opinion last year when they were deemed by many to
have jumped the queue ahead of the public, and David Beckham, to pay their
respects to the late queen lying in state in Westminster Hall.
The
presenters have endured a tumultuous few weeks in their personal lives, leading
both to take separate breaks from the programme. Schofield’s brother was jailed
for 12 years on Friday after being convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable
teenage boy.
Timothy
Schofield, 54, who was a civilian police worker with the Avon and Somerset
force at the time of the abuse, was found guilty of 11 sexual offences
involving a child. Phillip Schofield had previously disowned him during the
trial, and had taken pre-planned leave from presenting duties.
Willoughby
has also been absent this year, after being forced to take time to recuperate
from illness.
Schofield
has previously tried to head off rumours of a split, releasing a statement
calling Willoughby “my rock”. But the chorus of conjecture about their fizzling
relationship grew too loud, leading to Schofield’s statement on Saturday.
It read: “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.
“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. I’d like to thank everyone who
has supported me – especially This Morning’s amazing viewers – and I’ll see you
all for the Soap Awards next month.”
Willoughby
said: “It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I
want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his
experience and his humour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”
Kevin Lygo,
ITV’s managing director, media and entertainment, called Schofield “hands down
one of the best broadcasters of his generation” as he thanked him for his two
decades of service on the This Morning sofa.
“This
Morning is made by one of the best and most diligent teams in television, who
produce over 12 hours of live television each week. We look forward to
continuing our relationship with Phillip, starting with the British Soap Awards
in June and a brand new peak time series to come.”
It comes
weeks after Schofield tried to quash the rumours in a lengthy statement to The
Sun.
“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,”
he said.
He added:
“The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us. 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. Whatever happens, we still have
each other to count on.”
But the
statement arguably did more to highlight the rumoured problems between the
pair.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário