On This Morning, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby may cover the day’s news, but there’s one item that hasn’t been discussed all week.
It is, of course, the alleged drama surrounding their friendship, with rumours of a ‘fallout’ behind the scenes.
Speculation is widespread that the ITV show’s actors may be forced to resign amid the issue, after it was claimed that they’re ‘barely conversing’ when the cameras aren’t on.
While Phillip, 61, has maintained that he and Holly, 42, are still “best friends” and that she is his “rock,” the rumours paint a different picture.
So, what happened leading up to this reported ‘fallout,’ and what have some people who know them in real life stated about their relationship?
What happened leading up to the ‘fallout’, including queuegate?
The news of Holly and Phillip’s ‘fallout’ behind the scenes of This Morning may come as a surprise to some, but to many who have been watching the couple for years, it feels like an unavoidable escalation of recent events.
Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death last year, the two found themselves in deep water when they were accused of missing the queue to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at Westminster Abbey.
Despite ITV publishing a statement in their defence and the presenters maintaining that they did not breach any regulations or take anyone’s position in wait, the criticism has lingered for months.
There have been numerous allegations in the past that Phillip and Holly’s relationship has strained behind the scenes, with the couple each claiming throughout the years that they’ve always stayed as close as can be.
However, it has recently been reported that Holly pondered leaving This Morning in order to avoid the new issue, while Phillip has supposedly refused ITV’s pleas for him to stand down himself.
What could the ‘fallout’ mean for This Morning?
While Eamonn Holmes has stated that This Morning is a ‘tradition’ and that it doesn’t matter who hosts it, the departure of Phillip and Holly would certainly represent a significant shift.
Phillip has hosted the show since 2002, while Holly took over in 2009, with Amanda Holden temporarily filling in when she was on maternity leave in 2014.
Whether or whether the format is refined to perfection, finding the ideal formula of gifts for a TV programme may make or break the show.
A shift in major presenters from Monday to Thursday would therefore be a significant bet, with the producers relying on fresh (or possibly familiar) faces to salvage the programme’s reputation, retain faith in the show, and help it begin on a new chapter.
What have their co-stars said about the drama?
Many of the greatest personalities on ITV’s daytime news programming have kept silent on the subject, as predicted.
Lorraine Kelly, on the other hand, wasn’t hesitant to contribute her twopence the other day, saying, ‘Do you know what? They were back today and it was business as usual and everyone is just getting on with it.’
‘I would be sorry if they quit the show, but I don’t believe that is ever going to happen, and I think they’re just getting on with it,’ she said to The Sun.
Former This Morning star Eamonn was less sympathetic when he shared his thoughts on his GB News breakfast programme.
‘I think there should’ve been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors,’ he said brutally.
‘They may or may not be together on the telly today, but he’s brought in lawyers, she’s brought in [a] PR team. The public surely have sussed that there’s no chemistry, that there’s a broken fit between the two of them.’
But have Phillip and Holly said about the ‘fallout’?
Prior to queuegate, Phillip addressed accusations of a ‘feud’ with Holly, claiming emphatically: ‘When they’re writing “Phillip and Holly feud”, we couldn’t have been closer, because I’d given her my secret and she was keeping me together at work.’
Holly also commented on the rumours in 2021, calling it a “particularly difficult time.”
‘But I remember having a conversation with Phil and it was like, “But we know,”’ she recollected. ‘I have to believe that, as long as you know inside, and you know the truth – you know your truth – then everything is okay.’
However, they’ve been less united when it comes to this new wave of rumours. Phillip issued a statement, telling his followers: ‘As I have said before, Holly is my rock.
‘We’re the best of friends — as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone.’
He continued to The Sun: ‘Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her. The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.’
Holly’s response? She’s stayed quiet.
Will the nation ever fall back in love with Phillip and Holly again?
While Phillip and Holly were once national darlings, capable of bringing their audiences to tears with their amusing antics, it appears that they have been unable to shake their recent troubles.
They can’t just show up hungover in the morning and expect everyone to laugh with them.
Their side-splitting antics with Gino D’Acampo no longer make them internet superstars.
If Phillip and Holly are to continue, it will take a miracle for their audience to get past the recent issues and speculations regarding their relationship. It’s possible that harsh honesty with the public – whatever that entails – is the only path ahead.
If one or both of them were to leave This Morning, who could replace them?
Some fans immediately thought that Friday’s hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary would be logical replacements for Phillip and Holly on This Morning if they were to go.
Others have suggested that TV celebrities like Rylan Clark may be contenders, with the former X Factor star responding brilliantly to a troll who was not pleased with the notion.
‘Please God, don’t put Rylan in place of @Schofe. He’s everywhere and even more false than Phil,’ the troll tweeted, to which he simply replied, ‘Morning,’ with a thumbs up emoji.
Other options touted by bookmakers include Rochelle Humes, Joel Dommett, and Josie Gibson, with some even wondering if Piers Morgan may make a surprise comeback to ITV.
Who could play them in a TV drama?
A few prominent names spring to mind when considering who may portray Phillip and Holly in a hypothetical TV drama about the happenings behind the scenes of This Morning.
Perhaps Sienna Miller, Lucy Boynton, or Imogen Poots, all of whom have the acting chops to convey Holly’s distinctive happy demeanour and frequent giggles?
How about Martin Freeman, Simon Pegg, or Tom Hollander for Phillip, all of whom are chameleons capable of entirely changing into new characters?
If you have any better ideas, we’d love to hear them.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
