This Morning bosses engage in ‘crisis talks’ after Phillip Schofield ‘confronted’ Holly Willoughby in ‘tense conversation’
PHILLIP Schofield’s future at This Morning could be in jeopardy after ITV held “crisis talks” last night.
The Sun revealed that he confronted his 14-year-old co-host in a tense phone call shortly after their performance The dispute was made public.
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Insiders said an emotional Phil picked up the phone with his TV partner after it was revealed they were once close The relationship collapsed.
Holly had said she had made it clear to ITV bosses she would be hosting This Morning without Phil if he left, insisting they were “separate entities”.
Sources also reveal how The tension between Holly and Phil had become so palpableStaff on set noticed that when the cameras weren’t rolling, they hardly spoke to each other.
Now ITV bosses have called meetings to discuss what to do next in the duo’s dispute, the reports post.
It is said that Phil’s popularity with the show’s viewers is declining sharply.
The Sun revealed that last night Phil fears he will be axed from This Morning after his public falling out with TV wife Holly.
A source said: “Phil loves This Morning, it’s his life and he wants to stay.
“He was afraid that he would be thrown out because of what happened.
“Phil said he will fight to keep his job, but has no illusions that he has become deeply unpopular with some people on the show and with some segments of the public.
“His relationship with Holly had become more distant lately, but Phil had no idea it was all going to be so public and that she wanted to go it alone.”
People close to Phil, who has worked on This Morning for 21 years, also said he was saddened that Holly chose not to speak publicly.
He issued a statement to The Sun yesterday in which he alluded to the troubles in their relationship but promised he would stand by her.
A pal close to Phil added: “Phil made the statement that Holly was his best friend hoping it would prompt her to do the same.”
“To Phil, their silence is deafening. He feels taken by surprise, betrayed and very upset about it.”
Phil has hosted This Morning since 2002 and campaigned on Holly to join Fern Britton as his partner.
Holly joined him in 2009 and the two have worked together ever since, winning twelve National Television Awards together.
Her apparent determination to go it alone has led to speculation about who her next co-star would be should Phil disappear from the scene.
His contract is due to be renewed in December and while Phil is determined to keep fighting, there are some behind the scenes at ITV ready for a reshuffle – with Dermot O’Leary seen as the front runner.
Dermot filled in for Phil when he took three weeks off earlier this year while his brother Timothy was on trial.
They made brave faces as they took to the screen just hours after their argument was made public – but a body language expert said they were tense.
Tensions between the two have been brewing for some time and most recently they have been affected by the court case against Phil’s brother.
Timothy Schofield was charged with 11 sex offenses between October 2016 and October 2019, including two counts of having sexual activity with a child.
He is due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.
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