Phillip Schofield ‘oozes confidence’ while Holly Willoughby is ‘nervous’ amid This Morning feud, says body language pro
HOLLY Willoughby showed ‘nervous anxiety’ while Phillip Schofield ‘oozed confidence’ as they were seen on screen today amid their fall out, according to an expert.
The pair are said to have come to a truce in order to host the show today, following insiders claiming the stars are barely speaking off camera.
The Sun revealed that Holly, 42, and 61-year-old Phil’s issues have “rumbled for some time” and their 14-year relationship has “cooled” during their time on the ITV show.
Body language expert Judi James told Fabulous: “In this body language battle of bravado it was clearly Phil’s fight-back this morning.
“The guy tinkling a tune on a grand piano gave the initial impression that Holly and Phil had bottled it after all but it was a smart ice-breaker, giving Phil the advantage by allowing him to kick the show off cheering, clapping a performing a low sweeping bow while standing with his back to Holly.
“He then stepped into pose with a power-pose leg splay and his hands thrust into his pockets.
“While Phil’s body language oozed perky confidence, Holly’s was showing strong signs of self-diminishing to suggest the opposite.
“Her hands began clasped at chest level with the fingers pointing upward in a signal of self-protective anxiety.
“When Phil turned to Holly and their eyes met in some close-quarters eye contact her mouth smiled but her eye expression looked sad. Her wrists bent in a signal normally seen as submission and when she spoke her gestures were small and contained.
“Holly rubbed her hands nervously on her hips with a nervous sounding laugh and while Phil performed a confident neck-wobble to camera, Holly was seen fiddling with her fingers in a gesture of self-comfort and anxiety.”
Judi added that Phil was “flatteringly attentive” to Holly and there were moments that suggested the “double-act is not broken irreparably.”
She continued: “Phil showed signs of intense listening and being even flatteringly attentive to Holly at least a couple of times, turning right in to listen and face-watch as she spoke.
“At the end of the first segment on the sofa, as the cameras pulled away, he could be seen laughing and leaning forward then turning his head right towards Holly as she leant back in her seat to chat to the guests.”
A source said: “Holly and Phil are professionals and they can turn it on like no one else.
“Although behind the scenes their relationship is nothing like it was, they are both dedicated to This Morning and keeping it together for viewers.
“This Morning are aware of the issues and are doing everything they can to keep things running smoothly.”
This comes as we told how Phil has hired a lawyer after being “blindsided” by how public their fall out has become.
Phil feared he would be axed by ITV after it emerged Holly, his TV partner of 14 years, was prepared to strike out alone on the show.
Phil then released an emotional statement about their friendship.
An insider told The Sun: “Phil has instructed a lawyer to help keep his reputation intact.
“They are overseeing stories relating to ITV and his role on This Morning and are ensuring Phil is protected.
“Phil has done absolutely nothing wrong and doesn’t have a PR team guiding him.
“He and ITV felt he needed someone, officially, in his corner to ward off stuff that isn’t true.”
“Phil doesn’t want this to get beyond his control.”
Holly and Phil will be on screen together until late July and then take a six-week summer break.
It is believed they will hold talks with ITV on how they can move forward before their return in September.
Since Holly and Phil’s last show together on Thursday, he has chosen to lie low.
Holly appeared stony-faced when seen on a trip out on Saturday.
Those close to Holly said she was “blindsided” by Phil’s emotional statement about their friendship last week, which confirmed the issues within their relationship.
Similarly, after Holly chose to remain silent those close to Phil said he felt hurt that she had failed to speak openly about him.
Phil lobbied for Holly to join This Morning as co-presenter when Fern Britton, 65, left the show.
Holly joined him in 2009 and the pair — who also co-host Dancing on Ice — have earned 12 National Television Awards between them.
Sources say issues have been quietly rumbling for some time and Holly has distanced herself from Phil off camera.
His absence following his paedophile brother’s recent court case has added to the strain.
A source said: “Holly adores This Morning and for the first time in 14 years she has made it clear that should Phil ever leave she would want to stay. They are separate entities.
“To those around them on set, it has become clear recently that Holly and Phil are not as close as they once were.
“Professionally you would have no idea there was anything going on because on camera they are acting exactly the same.
“But behind the scenes their relationship has cooled.
“Before there would be a lot of banter and camaraderie off camera but that has dwindled.”
Show staffers say the pair now do not seem to speak to each other unless on camera.