Phillip Schofield’s This Morning axing shows the cutthroat nature of daytime TV

PHIL and Holly splitting is the TV equivalent of The Queen and Prince Philip separating.

Two or three years ago it would have seemed unbelievable but when the relationship between the two presenters is bigger news than anything on the show, it’s clear one of them has to go.

Audiences don’t like the thought that their presenters aren’t being authentic and about 100,000 viewers were switching off every week.

Only one of them was going to survive the rift and it’s Phil that’s fallen on his sword.

He’d been there 20 years but I think Holly’s star is burning brighter.

Phil may be hard-working and extremely bright but only when he teamed up with Holly did he become the nation’s favourite.

As cosy as This Morning appears, the fact Phil couldn’t say goodbye to his audience shows how close the sharks swim to the surface in daytime TV.

Phil and Holly’s union was like an arranged marriage, so when the cracks start to appear, it’s impossible to cover them up.