Phillip Schofield has spoken out about reports that he is ‘barely speaking’ to This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby.
It was claimed earlier this week that the Dancing On Ice hosts are not on good terms behind the scenes, as their relationship is deteriorating.
Holly, 42, and Phil, 61, started hosting the ITV daytime show together in 2009 and have maintained a professional relationship on our screens for the past 14 years.
And Phil maintains that they are still the closest of friends.
He has now replied to accusations that they are “not as close as they once were” and that their “banter and camaraderie off camera has dwindled.”
Phil said: ‘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 has been suffering with shingles in recent weeks, and replacements have included Alison Hammond and Rochelle Humes.
Meanwhile, Joel Dommett filled Phil’s place when he was on vacation from the programme due to his brother Timothy Schofield’s sexual assault prosecution.
Schofield was found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy over a three-year period after being accused with 11 sexual crimes involving a minor between October 2016 and October 2019 – two of which involved sexual activity with a kid.
Following the guilty conviction, Phil released a statement in which he stated that he ‘no longer’ has a sibling.
At the time, a source told Mail Online: ‘Holly is loyal to Phil and she will always be there for him.’
‘And she will always be there for This Morning too. She sees it as her role to keep things going.’
The pair’s claimed dispute comes on the heels of a fiasco last year in which they were accused of’skipping’ the queue to visit the Queen’s casket laying in state.
They later issued a statement in response to the outcry, emphasising that they had’respected’ the media’s regulations.
After addressing the anger on This Morning, they went on to win a National Television Award, despite criticism from celebrities and fans alike.
Holly said over a clip featuring footage of their visit: ‘The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast, those paying their respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.
‘None of the journalists and broadcasters there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.’
She continued: ‘We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know that we would never jump a queue.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
