Phillip Schofield is allegedly not pleased with ITV after standing down as host of This Morning.
The 61-year-old broadcaster said this weekend that he has already hosted his farewell episode alongside Holly Willoughby, 41, and that he will leave the daily show with ‘with effect.’
His departure comes after weeks of speculation that the pair’s connection has ‘dwindled,’ with reports circulating that a disagreement means their closeness is no longer as strong as it once was.
Phil, who hosted This Morning for 20 years, is said to have told pals that ITV had ‘hung him out to dry’.
Phil’s connection with Holly is believed to be in ‘tatters’ after he allegedly failed to notify her about his brother’s child sexual assault case, in which Timothy Schofield was sentenced to 12 years in jail.
An ITV insider added to the Mirror: ‘Phil’s fate was decided on Friday. It was a unanimous decision that he had to go.
‘He was upset, but firm that if he was going to walk away he wanted to keep his roles on The Cube, the British Soap Awards, and Dancing on Ice – crucially, with or without Holly.
‘It has all been worked out in the smoothest way possible, but behind the scenes, he has told friends he has been hung out to dry.
‘And his friendship with Holly is now in tatters.’
The source said it’s ‘hard to see’ how his friendship with Holly ‘could recover.’
‘The fact he chose to pointedly thank people who supported him – and the viewers – without mentioning her says it all.’
Indeed, many noted that Phil made no mention of Holly in his message, despite the fact that she published her own statement following his departure, praising him for ’13 amazing years’ on the couch.
Phil’s purported statements on his love for ITV came after he demonstrated’resilience’ in his last sign-off last week.
On Thursday (May 18), Phil and Holly fronted their last show together, concluding with Holly giving viewers a cheery, ‘See you Monday!’
Phil, though, simply said: ‘Bye!’
Body language expert Judi James analysed the moment, saying: ‘Holly did begin to finger-pick, Phil kept his hands in his pockets, bounced on his heels with a gleam in his eye and a mouth-clamp.
‘He kept the lips clamped but raised his chin with the corners of his mouth pulled down for the farewell, which could be a signal of resilience.’
When the camera zoomed out, she says their grins seemed ‘as incongruent as the robot’s,’ referring to the robot that ‘took over’ a section of the show earlier on.
‘Phil stepped back away from Holly while she moved straight across to talk to the shopping expert and throw her arms out to hug her.’
It has not yet been determined who will take Phil’s spot on the programme, but candidates circulating include Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary, and Rylan Clark.
Meanwhile, Holly is having an early half-term vacation and will return to This Morning at the beginning of June.
It’s unclear whether she’s had any communication with Phil since he announced his resignation, however insiders suggest they’ve called a ‘truce.’
