ITV bosses ‘sick of clearing up Phillip Schofield’s mess’ as it’s revealed he and Holly Willoughby ‘barely speak’
THIS Morning bosses are said to be “sick of clearing up Phillip Schofield’s mess” after rumours of a backstage fall out.
Yesterday, Phillip, 61, made an extraordinary last-ditch attempt to save his This Morning partnership with Holly Willoughby.
He issued it after we revealed the TV hosts barely speak off camera and their TV relationship was in peril behind-the-scenes.
It was all due to Phil taking three weeks off the show in March as his brother Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of child sex offences.
And now, sources have suggested that ITV are “fed up” of cleaning up any fallout, despite being once willing to take “bullets” for him.
According to the MailOnline, insiders close to This Morning Editor Martin Frizell said he is “fed up of clearing up Schofield’s mess”.
Despite once being willing to “take the bullets fired at Schofield,” Phillip is said to have lost the support of the TV editor.
While another TV source sarcastically joked of Phillip behind-the-scenes of the show: “It couldn’t happen to a nicer man.”
Today, This Morning fans called for Phillip to QUIT the show after Holly, 42, was “blindsided” by a statement about their rumoured feud.
Rumours had been circulating that Holly and Phil “barely speak” off screen after the relationship between them cooled.
Pouring out his heart, Phil had said in the statement yesterday: “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. The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
Phil’s statement yesterday also addressed the sentencing of his brother next week, and added: “My family went through a real ordeal.
“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.”
Following the statement, a show source said: “This is desperate stuff from Phil. He knows the relationship has been strained.”
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.
As producers cut to another segment, a fan tweeted: “Wonder what Phil and Holly are doing during this VT…”
Body language expert Judi James said Holly looked “painfully uncomfortable” while Phil appeared “childishly sarcastic”.