Desperate Phillip Schofield releases extraordinary statement in fight to mend broken relationship with Holly Willoughby
PHILLIP Schofield has made an extraordinary last-ditch attempt to save his This Morning partnership with Holly Willoughby.
In an emotional statement he told The Sun: “The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
He issued it after we revealed the TV hosts barely speak off camera.
Phil spoke exclusively to The Sun a day after we revealed their TV relationship was in peril.
The pair looked ill-at-ease on the ITV daytime hit yesterday.
Hours later Phil, 61, gave us a statement in an apparent bid to keep Holly, 42, on side.
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.”
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…”
Another wrote: “Must be awkward sitting there.”
Body language expert Judi James 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.”
Fans also remarked how Holly has removed a compliment about Phil from her Twitter bio.
The line: “I was introduced to this by a Twitter legend,” has been deleted.
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.
An insider confirmed to The Sun that the atmosphere was still strained behind the scenes.
They added: “Holly and Phil both put on smiles but naturally there was some tension.
“This has been brewing quietly for some time but now it’s all out in the open and people are talking about it. There is no getting past it.
“For those working on the show it was business as usual but naturally it’s the talk of the office.”
The pair first worked together on Dancing on Ice in 2006.
Phil lobbied for Holly to join him on This Morning three years later.
They have since enjoyed huge success — netting an incredible 12 National Television Awards.
But 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.
Yesterday sources told The Sun that Holly wants it to be made clear they are “separate entities” and that she is focused on her career.
They also revealed how on set the pair appeared to have stopped talking unless the cameras were on.
The source added: “Before there would be a lot of banter and camaraderie off-camera but that has dwindled.”
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are scheduled to host today’s show, with Holly and Phil due back on Monday.
SCHOFIELD’S STATEMENT
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.
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.