Holly Willoughby has returned to This Morning following former co-host Phil Schofield’s departure, following his admission of engaging in an “unwise but not illegal relationship with an ITV staff member of an underage age”. Schofield announced his exit last week following an “unwise but not illegal relationship”.
Holly returned with Josie Gibson as temporary co-host on Monday and made an emotional appeal to viewers.
Holly Willoughby
Holly Willoughby is an English television presenter and children’s book author who currently co-hosts ITV shows ‘This Morning’ and ‘Dancing on Ice’ alongside Phillip Schofield. She began her career entertaining children on various CBBC and CITV programs before co-hosting Celebrity Juice (ITV2) alongside Fearne Cotton as team captain on Celebrity Juice; later she hosted its revival alongside Stephen Mulhern; in 2007 presented the Channel 4 dating show Streetmate; two series later she hosted Holly & Fearne Go Dating as team captains alongside Fearne Cotton for two series as presenter on two series ‘Streetmate’ before co-hosting Holly & Fearne Go Dating alongside Fearne in 2008 alongside Fearne Cotton!
Since 2009, she has taken over for Fern Britton on This Morning as co-host. Reportedly earning PS730,000 per year in return, she is the highest-paid female TV presenter in the UK. Married to producer Dan Baldwin, she has three children named Harry, Belle and Chester whom she shares custody with their father Dan Baldwin.
Phil Schofield abruptly left ITV’s flagship show in late May after admitting lying about an affair he was having with a younger male colleague, which led to an explosion of scandal that left him “utterly broken”. Following this revelation, his agency, YMU, dropped him and forced him to sell off his house as well as losing its ambassadorship role with Prince’s Trust, founded by King.
Phillip Schofield
Phillip Schofield was an ITV presenter known for his longstanding presence on This Morning until he abruptly quit amid reports of tension with Holly Willoughby. Following this departure – following reports of feud – Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary took his place as co-hosts on This Morning; Dancing on Ice, British Soap Awards, Dancing On Ice Championships as well as continuity presenting duties on children’s show Broom Cupboard were among his other duties.
On Monday morning, Willoughby returned to This Morning and delivered an emotional monologue that detailed how her former co-host’s cheating scandal had left her shaken, troubled, and let down. She expressed concerns for people on both sides of the divide and described feeling very strange being here without him ‘Phil.
Rumors swirled that Schofield and Holly were at odds over the issue, leading some people to speculate she disliked Holly as her co-host. Schofield addressed these remarks via tweet by responding with her signature phrase – ‘these same handful of people with something against me or the show.
After the scandal broke out, Schofield was removed from various high-value deals, and The Prince’s Trust, established by King George in 1976 to assist disadvantage people under 30 living in poverty, decided it no longer appropriate to work together with him as an ambassador.
Dancing on Ice
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will host Dancing on Ice’s 15th series starting Sunday 15 January at 6.30 pm on ITV and ITVX. Holly and Phil will introduce celebrity and professional dancers each week as they perform show-stopping routines – starting off the series this year on January 15.
Since 2020, they have not appeared together on the show. That year, Schofield admitted to engaging in an “unwise but not illegal affair” with an ITV employee over 30 years his junior – while lying about it to his manager, channel, and agent.
In 2022, this duo caused controversy when filming This Morning at Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in state ceremony in Westminster Hall. Instead of queuing with members of the general public who had to wait hours in line for admission to film there, they were instead taken from the press gallery by government staff rather than joining those waiting in line themselves.
This show will see an assortment of celebrities, such as comedians, reality stars and former professional dancers compete against one another on the ice. Pairing professional dancers with celebrities for weekly skating competitions that will eventually have one couple eliminated each time. At the end of it all, whoever remains standing will be declared the winner!
This Morning
In October 1988, Granada Television debuted This Morning as a daily daytime program on British television. Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan hosted for over 10 years before Schofield joined in 2002; initially as co-presenter alongside Fern Britton on Fridays before taking over her main presenter slot in 2008.
Holly and Phil presented ITV’s Morning Live together until Phil made headlines by admitting to an affair with an underage colleague of his at ITV and then leaving. His confession left him “very hurt,” though ITV claimed it had been “unwise but legal”. Holly attempted to contain her emotions during her first appearance since Phil’s scandal broke out – asking viewers whether they were OK.
“I have taken time to process yesterday’s news. At first when reports of their relationship surfaced, I asked Phil directly if it were true and he categorically denied it.”
Holly’s temporary co-host Dermot O’Leary addressed the matter on air: “It has been hard work but we truly enjoy making This Morning; I hope that’s also the case for you!”
Holly Schofield has also had several products tied to her name. One such product was When in Rome’s wine range; shortly after the scandal broke they withdrew it from sale citing their association having come to a ‘natural end’.