HIDDEN RIFT
The 5 secret signs Holly Willoughby & Phillip Schofield are desperate to hide their This Morning feud with ‘fake smiles’
HOLLY Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are barely speaking off camera and their 14-year relationship has “cooled”, The Sun has revealed.
Sources say issues have been quietly rumbling for some time, but a body language expert has revealed the five secret signs from This Morning which show a rift.
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Phil’s absence following his paedophile brother’s recent court case has allegedly added to the strain.
Judi James said evidence of tension between the pair has been seen on today’s show, and claims Phil, 61, acted childishly, while Holly, 42, seemed uncomfortable.
Here are the five signs that there is trouble in paradise…
Phillip’s desire to hide
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Judi analysed Phillip’s stance during the opening of the show, and commented on how his hands were stuffed in his pockets.
She said: “The first few moments of the show looked toe-curling. Phil was in jaunty over-kill mode, looking super-perky and rather self-amused in a way that seemed to be served with a hint of sarcasm.
“Standing with a wide leg splay to signal power, strength and resilience he also looked incongruent as his hands were stuffed in his pockets, suggesting an inner desire to hide.
“His splayed legs during the intro is unusual for him and suggests defiance and preparing to stand his ground.”
Holly’s arm barrier
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And Holly appeared awkward too, according to Judi.
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The body language pro continued: “As Phil got bouncier Holly got less comfortable, standing in the end clutching one wrist with her arms in a barrier ritual.”
Phil’s ‘snarl’ and devilish smiles
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While their relationship may be having a tough patch, Judi said Phil appearance to be all smiles on screen.
She explained: “The first few moments of the show looked toe-curling.
“Phil was in jaunty overkill mode, looking super-perky and rather self-amused in a way that seemed to be served with a hint of sarcasm.
“Phil’s teeth-baring smile to the camera at end of the intro was more of an animal attack signal than a warm smile.”
Holly’s rejection gestures
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Judi commented on Holly’s body language in response to Phillip’s, saying: “Rocking from side to side to Lulu, his normal Duchenne smile became more of a comedy, open-mouthed smile, converting to a very impish grin as he turned to stare at Holly.
“Holly’s signals made her the grown-up to his child here.
“Her upper torso leaned away from Phil and she barely waved her arms to the music.
“Holly began to look uncomfortable, using some bent-wrist hand gestures and rubbing her forehead in a way that made her look passive.”
Phillip’s panto villain laughter
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During the show, the TV hosts spoke to Gok Wan and Judi said Phil’s laugh at the end of the introduction seemed like an “overkill ritual”.
She claimed: “Phil threw his head right back to laugh like a panto villain long after Holly had finished laughing during the intro.
“They lack synchronicity here, they always used to share a laugh but this looks like an overkill ritual."
This follows a source saying Holly would do the show without Phillip, with them claiming: “Should he leave, she’d want to stay.”
The pair have presented the hit ITV daytime show for 14 years but in recent months their partnership has come under strain.
A source said: “Holly adores This Morning and for the first time in 14 years she has made it clear that should Phil ever leave she would want to stay. They are separate entities.
“To those around them on set, it has become clear recently that Holly and Phil are not as close as they once were.
“Professionally you would have no idea there was anything going on because on camera they are acting exactly the same.
"But behind the scenes their relationship has cooled.
“Before there would be a lot of banter and camaraderie off camera but that has dwindled.”
The pair’s reign as the king and queen of daytime TV has seen them haul in 12 National Television Awards.
But show staffers say the pair now do not seem to speak to each other unless on camera.
The insider said: “Holly and Phil have gone through rough patches before like any professional pairing who have worked together for over a decade.
“Before they have always seemed to move on, but this time it seems different.”
Holly took over from Fern Britton in 2009.
Phil lobbied ITV bosses to bring her on board following their success presenting Dancing On Ice which began three years earlier.
Their partnership also became successful off screen as they regularly holidayed with their extended families.
Holly also became Phil’s “rock” when he came out as gay live on This Morning in February 2020.
But the past year has been difficult for their partnership.
In September they were accused of skipping the queue to see the Queen’s Lying-in-State.
Last month Phil took a break from This Morning when brother Timothy Schofield, 54, faced court.
The civilian police worker, from Bath, was found guilty of 11 offences involving a child between 2016 and 2019.
He is due to be sentenced next week.
During Phil’s absence Holly was paired with Alison Hammond and Joel Dommett.
Fans applauded the fresh look, and questions were raised about Phil’s return.
A source continued: “Holly has always supported Phil but they aren’t Ant and Dec.
“In the past year alone she’s hosted shows for ITV and the BBC and has more than proved her mettle.
“This Morning is Holly’s home and she adores her job.
“Her bosses at ITV know she would wish to stay if Phil ever did choose to move on.
“Holly is focused on her career and doing the best job she can for fans. That is what really matters to her.”
Both Holly and Phil attended the 50th birthday of their comedian pal Leigh Francis last month.
They shared selfies from the night on their social media but were not pictured together.
The insider added: “Holly and Phil have respect for one another and together they have a huge amount of history on screen together.
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“But it has become an open secret that things aren’t as rosy as they once were.
“Holly however has made her position clear and that is that she wants to remain at the heart of This Morning.”
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