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.

After Phillip Schofield left This Morning, Holly Willoughby shared a professional statement thanking him:
> “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.”

When Schofield admitted to a consensual relationship with a younger colleague and lying about it, Willoughby expressed her hurt, having asked him directly about the rumors and been told they were false:
> “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.”

Returning to This Morning with Josie Gibson, Willoughby addressed the scandal emotionally:
> “Hi there. Good morning. Josie, thank you for being here. Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. And I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have – shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s been going on, and full of questions. You, me, and all of us at *This Morning* gave our love and support to 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. That is a lot to process. And it’s equally hard to see the toll that it’s taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone. I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.”

Phillip’s affair

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.”