All the signs ‘best friends’ Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield weren’t speaking anymore backstage at This Morning
HOLLY Willoughby and her co-star and pal Phillip Schofield are barely speaking off camera and their 14-year relationship has “cooled,” The Sun has revealed.
Sources say issues have been quietly rumbling for some time, despite the pair presenting the magazine daytime show together each day.
But Phil’s absence following his paedophile brother’s recent court case has allegedly added to the strain.
And an insider has since confirmed to The Sun that the atmosphere was still strained behind the scenes.
Recently, fans have spotted signs that the ‘best friends’ aren’t speaking anymore backstage on This Morning.
Viewers were convinced they spotted tension between the pair this week, and took to social media to air their thoughts.
As producers cut to another segment, a fan tweeted: “Wonder what Phil and Holly are doing during this VT…”
Another wrote: “Must be awkward sitting there.”
Body language expert Judi James has also weighed in on their strained friendship, and said Holly looked “painfully uncomfortable” while Phil appeared “childishly sarcastic”.
She added: “The first few moments of the show looked toe-curling.
“Phil was in jaunty overkill mode, looking super-perky and rather self-amused in a way that seemed to be served with a hint of sarcasm.
“Holly began to look uncomfortable, using some bent-wrist gestures and rubbing her forehead in a way that made her look passive.
“As Phil got bouncier Holly got less comfortable, standing in the end clutching one wrist with her arms in a barrier ritual.”
As well as this onscreen tension, fans have also picked up on how Holly removed a compliment about Phil from her Twitter bio.
The line: “I was introduced to this by a Twitter legend,” has been deleted.
Her Twitter bio currently reads: “Broadcaster, Founder of Wyldemoon, Brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer and Garnier, Author of Reflections.”
Commenting on the changes, one person tweeted: “Loads of newspaper reports overnight that they’ve both fallen out and don’t talk anymore. Holly’s also removed the mention of Phil from her twitter bio.”
Another echoed: “Didn’t Holly’s twitter bio say something about being introduced to Twitter by ‘a legend’ (ie Phil), now it’s not there…”
Another found a screenshot of her previous Twitter bio, and captioned it: “Ah yes, I wasn’t dreaming.”
It was also noted Holly had not posted anything with Phil on her Instagram grid in more than two months.
Last month they failed to publicly acknowledge each other at comedian pal Leigh Francis’s 50th birthday party.
Holly and Phil first worked together on Dancing on Ice in 2006, and Phil then lobbied for Holly to join him on This Morning three years later.
But tensions began to arise when Holly allegedly banned Phil from posting photos of her drinking alcohol on social media.
The pair also had to defend their friendship after rumours emerged of a war between Phil and his since departed co-host Ruth Langsford.
Then more recent events including being accused of queue-jumping at the Queen’s Lying-In-State — plus Phil’s brother’s court case — have made for a difficult year.
Holly has not spoken publicly about Phil since we revealed she wanted to keep hosting even if he left.
But Phil has issued a statement to The Sun recently, in a fight to mend their broken relationship.
He told The Sun: “The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
Pouring out his heart, Phil added: “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.
“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.”
Phil’s statement added: “My family went through a real ordeal.
“And Holly’s support throughout meant the world to me, as did the support of my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our amazing viewers.
“And of course Holly has herself been ill with shingles.”
Following the statement, a show source said: “This is desperate stuff from Phil.
“He knows the relationship has been strained.”