Holly Willoughby hints at fallout with Phillip Schofield as she opens up on ‘kindness and learning patience’
HOLLY Willoughby has hinted at her fallout with This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield in her latest blog post for her Wylde Moon website.
We revealed how the longtime friends have a tense relationship behind the scenes, despite their smiley on-camera personas.
And last night Phillip, 61, issued a statement admitting things have been difficult between them recently, but insisted they were still best friends.
Its release is said to have taken Holly by surprise as she allegedly only learned about it after reading it online, something Phillip has denied.
In her Wylde Moon post, Holly, 42, reflects on her stint hosting I’m A Celebrity in 2018, when she stepped in for the absent Ant McPartlin, and how that started a journey of self-reflection.
She wrote: “I think kindness and patience are the most important attributes in life. Whilst I feel it’s in everyone to be kind, personally, patience is something that I have definitely had to learn.
“I think when you live a fast-paced life, the urgency of your needs and expectations mean you’re permanently looking for short cuts to make things happen quickly. The big truth (as I’ve come to learn it) is that anything in life that’s worth having, is worth building up to and waiting for. It’s the delayed gratification that makes all of it worth the wait! Kindness and patience are totally non-negotiable for me – and should be for everybody.
“I’ve been thinking a lot recently about kindness. The Be Kind mantra is wonderful and it’s incredible to see it be spoken about and used so much more openly now. I was thinking of ways that we could move this on even further and maybe make a pledge to be kind ourselves – ‘I’m going to be kind’ – because it brings it back to us and what we can control and change to be and do better.”
Phillip broke his silence about the pair’s fallout last night in an extraordinary move, telling The Sun: “The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
According to the MailOnline, Holly had no idea that Phil was planning to talk and she was first made aware of it when the article was published.
Phil has said this is “categorically untrue”.
The paper reports that their 14 year friendship is in tatters after he failed to tell her that his brother, Timothy, faced charges of child sex offences.
They claim Holly only found out when Phillip took a week off during the court case, which Phil has denied.
A source said: “Holly had to find out from someone else which must have been awful for her. She has been so loyal to him.
“It has been upsetting for her, they have been pretty inseparable for 14 years. They have been through so much together, some happy and some really tough. But now their once super close friendship is no longer.”
Phillip’s version of events is different and he has praised Holly for “being his rock”, after we revealed the TV hosts barely speak off camera.
Pouring out his heart, 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.
“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 took three weeks off the show in March as his brother Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of child sex offences.
He is due to be sentenced next week. 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.”
“Whatever happens, we still have each other to count on.”
Holly has not spoken publicly about Phil since we revealed she wanted to keep hosting even if he left.
Yesterday they began the show with a dance — Holly swinging her arms and Phil planting his hands in his pocket as he swayed from side to side.
Both flashed their trademark smiles but viewers were convinced they spotted tension.
Body language expert Judi James said Holly looked “painfully uncomfortable” while Phil appeared “childishly sarcastic”.
Fans also remarked how Holly has removed a compliment about Phil from her Twitter bio.