Matthew Wright, who co-hosts This Morning with Holly Willoughby, has admitted that he is ‘gutted’ for Phillip Schofield, who is leaving the show.
‘I have always been happy to cover great subjects on This Morning,’ the 61-year-old anchor revealed on Saturday. However, This Morning has suddenly been the narrative.
‘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 Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden appeared to criticise Phil, Matthew, 57, took to Twitter to express his support.
He wrote: ‘Gutted for @Schofe – there for me when I was having problems a few years back x.’
Phil’s exit comes after it was alleged that he and Holly, 41, were ‘barely communicating’ behind-the-scenes and that their relationship had ‘cooled’.
While they have maintained a united front on the This Morning sofa, and Phil recently insisted that they are “still the best of friends,” rumours have persisted, with reports escalating to claims that Phil is “refusing to quit This Morning,” with one source calling the situation a “runaway train that cannot be stopped.”
Matthew had previously downplayed accusations of tension amid the rumours.
Following a sting on This Morning earlier this week, he wrote: ‘Not sure I believe half of what you read about Holly and Phil.
‘Terrific atmosphere on set today as per.’
On Wednesday, May 10, a source revealed: ‘To many around them on set, it has suddenly been evident that Holly and Phil are not as close as they once were.
‘To those around them on set, it has become clear recently that Holly and Phil are not as close as they once were.
They continued to The Sun: ‘But behind the scenes their relationship has cooled.
‘Before there would be a lot of banter and camaraderie off camera but that has dwindled.’
Holly took over for Fern Britton and joined Phil, who had headed the show since 2002, when they began hosting the ITV daytime show together in 2009.
Ulrika Jonsson and Eamonn Holmes have subsequently commented on the supposed ‘fallout,’ with the GB News host scathingly stating, ‘I think there should’ve been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for outstanding performers.’
Meanwhile, Carol McGiffin, a former Loose Women star, alleged that ‘he wasn’t very pleasant’.
‘He treated me like, “Oh another loose woman with another book.” I kind of get that, but he was so not interested it was a struggle.
‘I was giggling, actually laughing because I couldn’t believe he was being so b****y rude.’
She later added that she’d heard a ‘lot of stories about him being rather unpleasant to a lot of people, especially to a lot of people who were further down the food chain in TV.’
‘They so clearly don’t get on anymore. I know they used to. I don’t know why one of them doesn’t just want to go,’ she remarked.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
