Holly Willoughby piles pressure on This Morning bosses over decision on Phillip Schofield’s future
HOLLY Willoughby is said to be piling on the pressure for a decision over Phillip Schofield’s future on This Morning.
The TV host is keen to begin contract negotiations after a fallout between the pair, according to new reports.
This week, it was revealed that Phillip, 61, has his contract up for renewal in September – seeing him hanging in the balance.
The presenter has been left terrified he will be axed from This Morning after his public fallout with Holly, 42.
And now, things look to have gone from bad to worse as his former work wife has piled on the pressure for a decision to be made.
According to The Mirror, Holly has asked her team to reach out and speed up the decision about their future as co-hosts.
A source told the publication: “Holly was considering her position on the show earlier this year, as she couldn’t see Phil being ousted.
“But that is now a real possibility and she wants to see a decision made on both of their futures quickly.
“That is what is behind Holly asking her team to reach out to ITV – she is trying to move things forward.
“There has been no bloodbath meeting yet, but that could well be to come. The sooner it happens, the sooner she can rebrand herself.”
The Sun have contacted Phillip’s representative for comment.
Those close to Phil, who has worked on This Morning for 21 years, also said he was saddened that Holly had chosen not to speak publicly.
He issued a statement to The Sun yesterday alluding to the issues within their relationship but vowing he would stick by her.
A pal close to Phil added: “Phil put out that statement saying Holly was his best friend in the hope it would prompt her to do the same.
“To Phil her silence is deafening. He feels blindsided, betrayed and has been left really upset by it all.”
Phil has hosted This Morning since 2002 and lobbied with Holly to join as his partner when Fern Britton.
Holly joined him in 2009 and the pair have worked together since, earning 12 National Television Awards between them.
Her apparent determination to strike out alone has seen speculation surrounding who would become her next on screen partner should Phil be taken out of the picture.
His contract is up for renewal this year and while Phil is determined to fight on, there are some behind the scenes at ITV who are ready for a shake-up – with Dermot O’Leary tipped as the front-runner.
Dermot stepped in for Phil when he took three weeks off earlier this year as his brother Timothy stood trial.
Holly and Phil are expected to return to the sofa on Monday.
They put on brave faces when they appeared on screen just hours after their rift was made public- but a body language expert said they were strained.
Tensions between the pair have bubbled away for some time and more recently they have been affected by Phil’s brother’s court case.
Timothy Schofield was charged with 11 sexual offences, including two of sexual activity with a child, between October 2016 and October 2019.
He is due to be sentenced on Friday at Bristol Crown Court.