Eamonn Holmes slammed Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby over the continuing This Morning dispute, insisting that ‘they deserve each other’.
The 63-year-old GB News presenter, who is married to Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford, maintained he did not accept Phil’s claim that he’stepped down’ from his post over the weekend after more than two decades.
During the Monday morning newspaper review, Eamonn’s co-host Isabel Webster said that he was’stepping down,’ but Eamonn swiftly corrected her.
‘Oh please just stop this. He was sacked. All this nonsense of “I’ve decided to step down”. I’m sure you did – here’s your P45, now step down,’ he ranted.
‘Why do we propagate this language, “I’ve decided to step down”. And she says: “Oh, the couch will not be the same without him being there”. Well, she wanted him not there. So what is she moaning about the coach not feeling the same for?
‘They deserve each other I suppose.’
Eamonn has been quite open about his opinions on Phil, 62, and the supposed ‘fallout’ between him and Holly, 42, amid accusations they were ‘barely communicating’ behind-the-scenes and that their romance had ‘cooled’.
Against that backdrop, he launched a scathing attack on the couple, referring to them as “actors.”
On Saturday, after Phil announced his departure after over 20 years on the show, Eamonn took to Twitter hours later as he shared a sweet snap with his granddaughter and wrote: ‘Pappa got a smacker, Thank u Emilia. All in all that rounded off what turned out to be a good day.’
Pappa got a smacker 👄 Thank u Emilia. All in all that rounded off what turned out to be a good day 😍 pic.twitter.com/1Q022dUQVq
— Eamonn Holmes OBE (@EamonnHolmes) May 20, 2023
Fans took to the comments to read between the lines, with one calling it ‘savage’ and another laughing: ‘I’ll bet it was.’
Phil is leaving This Morning immediately, while Holly is taking a two-week half-term leave.
This means that neither will be on the couch for today’s programme, with normal Friday hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary filling in.
In his statement over the weekend, Phil said: ‘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.’
While Holly later said in her own statement: ‘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.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
