Phillip Schofield terrified he will be axed from This Morning after explosive fallout with Holly Willoughby
PHILLIP Schofield fears he’ll be axed from This Morning after his public fallout with TV wife Holly Willoughby.
The Sun can reveal he confronted his co-host of 14 years in a tense phone call shortly after their rift was made public.
Insiders said an emotional Phil picked up the phone to his TV partner after it was revealed their once close relationship was crumbling.
Holly had said she made it clear to ITV bosses that she would host This Morning without Phil if he left, insisting they were “separate entities”.
Sources also let on how tensions between Holly and Phil had become so palpable, it was apparent to staff on set that they were barely speaking when the cameras weren’t rolling.
The upset has led to Phil fearing he would be axed by ITV.
A source said: “Phil loves This Morning, it is his life and he wants to stay.
“He scared he is going to be pushed out because of what has happened.
“Phil said he’s going to fight to keep his job but he is under no illusion he has become deeply unpopular with some people on the show and with some sections of the public.
“His relationship with Holly had become more distant recently but Phil had no idea it would all become so public and that she wanted to strike out alone.”
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 in December 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.