Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield turn backs on ITV peace talks for reason which will worry fans
ITV has no plans to hold peace talks on healing the rift between Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield — amid fears last night that they may not appear together on tomorrow’s This Morning.
In an orchestrated move, ITV and representatives for each of the This Morning presenters categorically denied mediation sessions would be held.
A show source told The Sun on Sunday it would now be “too late” for outside help.
The source said they were worried their working relationship has broken down irretrievably and added: “Holly just wants Phil gone.”
Insiders claimed there were growing concerns the pair might not even appear on tomorrow’s edition of the show — as last night an ITV spokesman declined to comment on whether they would be on screen as billed.
The couple have been one of Britain’s best-known double acts for years but they have been caught up in dramas such as the Queue-gate scandal after the Queen’s death and Phillip’s brother being convicted for sexually abusing a minor.
On Thursday’s show they danced to Lulu’s 1969 Eurovision song Boom Bang-A-Bang — with viewers commenting on how embarrassed Holly looked.
The source said: “It is awful. The atmosphere is shocking.
“When the cameras stop, so do they. No chat, no communication. It used to be relaxed and friendly.
“It seems that Holly clearly wants to stay — and a lot of the team want Phillip gone. It is not a pleasant working environment for a place that used to be such fun when they were mates.
“The relationship appears to be becoming more and more strained.
“We all think mediation would be a great idea because something needs to be done.
“Obviously all the bosses have had meetings about it but the only way you can deal with something like this is for the two former friends to come face to face and thrash it out.
“The pair of them look miserable right now and it is rubbing off on everyone else.
“It can’t carry on. People are complaining about it and everyone is dreading what Monday brings for the show and therefore the team.”
Meanwhile Holly looked downcast as she stepped out makeup-free in Hampshire yesterday.
The 42-year-old — who has three children with TV producer husband Dan Baldwin, 48 — scrolled on her phone as she walked with a Gucci handbag slung over her camel trench coat.
The Sun told on Thursday how she had made it clear to show bosses that the pair were “separate entities” and that she was prepared to continue presenting This Morning if 61-year-old Phillip left.
Yesterday The Sun revealed Phil had made an emotional phone call to Holly — and that This Morning’s Friday host Dermot O’Leary has been tipped to take over if Phillip went.
However the source said: “Everyone loves Dermot but most of the team think that it would be a temporary fix and they would go for co-host Alison Hammond as the permanent replacement.
“The feeling is that a female double act like Strictly would be brilliant. And it would give the show a very fresh new look instead of a man and woman again.”
Phillip 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 have earned 12 National Television Awards between them.
They have also each made a fortune, with big-money TV deals and brand partnerships.