Once inseparable co-hosts of ITV's This Morning for nearly 14 years, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s dynamic onscreen chemistry defined morning TV for a generation. However, Schofield's career took a dramatic turn in 2023 when he admitted to an affair with a younger male colleague, an admission that ultimately led to his departure from the flagship morning show. Schofield's attempt at a comeback was marked by his appearance on Channel 5's Phillip Schofield Cast Away, where he spent ten days in isolation on a remote island, reflecting on his actions and the scandal that upended his career.
Meanwhile, Willoughby took a new direction herself by leaving This Morning in October 2024 and hosting the now cancelled Dancing On Ice with comedian Stephen Mulhern, stepping into a role she once shared with Schofield. The fallout from Schofield's scandal and his subsequent retreat from public life raised many questions about the duo's friendship and professional partnership on ITV. But what has Holly Willoughby said about her former co-host's dramatic fall from grace and his departure from the show that made them household names? Let’s take a closer look…
In the wake of Schofield's dramatic exit as co-host of This Morning, his long-time colleague Willoughby shared her heartfelt thoughts in a touching statement to the legion of morning show fans.
It read: "Hi everyone... It's been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil, and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience, and his humour. The sofa won't feel the same without him," she expressed, marking the end of an era for the beloved morning duo.
The plot thickened when Phillip later confessed to having a "consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague." This revelation prompted Holly to issue a second, more sombre statement, revealing her personal turmoil over the situation.
She wrote: "It's taken time to process yesterday's news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It's been very hurtful to find out that was a lie."
In a revealing BBC interview following his departure from ITV, Schofield disclosed that he had reached out to Willoughby via text shortly after the scandal broke. He shared the content of his message, stating: "I WhatsApped her on the day I put out the statement.
"I said that you don't have to reply, you probably can't, but I want to say I'm desperately, desperately sorry." Phillip also expressed his remorse in a discussion with The Sun, adding: "I let her down. I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down.
"Holly did not know and she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say: 'I am so, so sorry that I lied to you.' She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply as well. So yeah, if anyone is in any way linking Holly to this, that is absolutely, wholly untrue."
When Holly returned to This Morning in June 2023 after a two-week hiatus, she openly discussed the emotional impact of Phillip's actions. She conveyed to the audience: "I imagine you might have been feeling like I have, worried, shaken, troubled, let down and full of questions."
The mum-of-three elaborated on the breach of trust, saying: "You, me and everyone here put our trust in someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved."
Holly also reflected on the collective need for recovery, stating: "That is a lot to process. It's equally hard to see the toll it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and well being of everyone.
"I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that the show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other. From my heart, thank you for all of your kind messages."
The 44-year-old's recent social media post about the now cancelled Dancing On Ice series stood out to fans not for what she did say about Schofield, but more for what she didn’t. The star avoided any inclusion of her former friend and co-star when she issued a tribute to her time on the show.
The duo presented the show together from its inception in 2006 until 2011. Holly then left the show, and Christine Bleakley replaced her as co-host alongside Schofield. Holly returned to co-host the show with Schofield in 2018 when Dancing on Ice was revived after a four-year break.
Breaking her silence, Willoughby shared a series of photos taken from moments on the celebrity skating show throughout the years, and has seemingly cropped out Schofield, who left his ITV roles in 2023 after his affair scandal.
