Holly Willoughby crowned as British TV’s most powerful woman presenter after Phillip Schofield’s This Morning departure

HOLLY Willoughby was yesterday crowned as British TV’s most powerful woman presenter.

The news that she would remain as queen of This ­Morning after Phillip ­Schofield’s departure capped her 14-year rise to the top.

A source said: “Holly is the real winner in all of this as she has emerged victorious and classy. She has played a masterstroke.”

Initially, Holly was drafted in by Phil as a nervous stop-gap after former co-host Fern Britton left.

Now the telly doyenne is worth an estimated £20million and boasts lucrative commercial deals.

The source added: “The situation between the crumbling partnership became so serious that ITV bosses had to choose which horse to back — Phil or Holly. And it was clear where their loyalties lay.

“Getting rid of Phil was never going to be easy. But producers had to think about the longevity of the show. Holly was its future and they want to keep her happy.”

Relations between Holly, 42, and 61-year-old Phil — who used to holiday together in Portugal’s upmarket Quinta do Lago resort — reached breaking point earlier this month.

The Sun told how they were “barely speaking” when the This Morning cameras stopped rolling.

Holly was the girl-next-door in Phil’s shadow when she joined the daytime TV team.

The source said: “Holly was a natural and the audience quickly warmed to her. Women wanted to be her friend and men fancied her.

“The audience adored her natural chemistry with Phil and their obvious friendship.

“Watching them crack up on camera into uncontrollable giggles was such a highlight for viewers, that producers didn’t even mind them going off script.

“It was a match made in daytime telly heaven and for a long time seemed unshakeable.”

Holly joined major showbiz agency YMU alongside Phil and ITV’s biggest stars Ant and Dec.

Her husband of 15 years, TV ­producer Dan Baldwin, has been helping to navigate her career.

The couple met in 2004 while working on ITV’s Ministry of Mayhem.

Dan, 48, now owns successful production company Hungry Bear, which makes The Wheel and Breaking Dad, starring Bradley Walsh and his son Barney.

The source said: “Holly and Dan have a rock-solid relationship and discuss career moves together. She respects his producer perspective.”

Holly’s big solo TV breakthrough came in 2018 when she filled in for Ant McPartlin alongside Declan Donnelly on I’m A Celebrity.

An insider said: “Phil had wanted the I’m A Celeb gig so it was a ­little awkward when not only did Holly win it but totally nailed it.”

In spring 2020 Holly shook the industry by quitting YMU, setting up Roxy Management, and taking full control of her career.

A legal battle ensued over their claim for 15 per cent of her future earnings but last year Holly pocketed £1million in an out-of-court settlement with the agency — where Phil remains a shareholder.

Last year the mum of three fronted the high-profile BBC1 show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof.

In 2021 Holly launched her life­style brand Wylde Moon.

She has signed seven-figure deals with top brands including Marks & Spencer and Garnier and has written 15 parenting and children’s books.

Simultaneously, Phil’s career started to stall. His ITV shows The Cube and 5 Gold Rings have not returned after the pandemic and he was dropped from his £1million contract with WeBuyAnyCar.

The source said: “Holly’s star has been shining brighter for some time and it’s not going anywhere. Phil’s departure only cements that.”

How The Sun broke the story

THE Sun first revealed TV’s once-golden couple were “barely speaking” on Wednesday, May 10.

Two days later, in a last-ditch attempt to save the partnership, Phillip told us: “The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”

We then told how he confronted Holly in a phone call after their rift was made public — before calling in lawyers for help.

TV couple's best bits

PHIL and Holly went viral when they turned up hungover after winning at the National Television Awards in 2016.

A year later, they were dwarfed by 6ft 9in Russian model Ekaterina Lisina who held the Guinness World Record for the longest legs.

The same year Holly was seen clutching on to Phil when a pet behaviourist brought in her adopted bird, Russell The Crow.