This Morning’s Holly Willoughby & Philip Schofield barely speaking as insiders reveal she would do show without him
THIS Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are barely speaking off camera, The Sun can reveal.
Insiders say their 14-year relationship has “cooled” as issues have “rumbled for some time” on the ITV show.
A source said of Holly, 42, and Phil, 61: “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.
Sources say issues have been quietly rumbling for some time and Holly has distanced herself from Phil off camera.
His absence following his paedophile brother’s recent court case has added to the strain.
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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.
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“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.”
Friends’ road to top telly pairing
HOLLY and Phil forged a top TV double act.
He went from Children’s BBC to game shows before joining This Morning in 2002.
She also began on kids’ telly, and fronted The Voice, plus dating and reality shows.
Here’s how their partnership unfolded…
JANUARY 2006: Holly and Phil team up for Dancing On Ice.
SEPTEMBER 2009: Phil lobbies for Holly to join This Morning and she replaces Fern Britton.
NOVEMBER 2010: The pair win their first gong together, picking up the TV Times Favourite Daytime Programme award.
FEBRUARY 2011: Their first National Television Award win as a duo.
OCTOBER 2013: The pair celebrate This Morning’s 25th anniversary with a live broadcast from the show’s original home at Albert Dock.
SEPTEMBER 2014: Holly goes on maternity leave and is replaced by Amanda Holden.
JANUARY 2016: Holly and Phil make headlines by turning up to work in their glad rags from the night before after partying following the NTAs.
JANUARY 2018: They return to Dancing On Ice to front the reboot.
DECEMBER 2020: The duo begin Christmas Day This Morning special after demand from fans.
SEPTEMBER 2022: They come under fire after being accused of jumping the queue for the Queen’s Lying-in-State.
MARCH 2023: Phil takes a break from This Morning and Holly is paired with Alison Hammond.
