‘My rock’: Schofield denies rumours of feud with co-host Willoughby
PHILLIP SCHOFIELD today insisted his This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby is his “rock” amid reports the pair’s relationship has come under strain.
The presenter, 61, recently returned to the show following a period of preplanned leave around his brother’s sex abuse trial.
It has been reported that the absence had contributed to a “cooling” of their friendship, with the pair said to be barely speaking outside of work. However, Schofield has now broken his silence to insist that there has been no fallout with his co-host of 14 years.
In a statement, he said: “Holly is my rock. We’re the best of friends — as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone.
“Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her. The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
Schofield added: “My family went through a real ordeal, and Holly’s support throughout meant the world to me — as did the support of my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our amazing viewers.
“Whatever happens, we still have each other to count on.”
According to Mail Online, Schofield’s decision to speak publicly about the reported feud came as a surprise to Willoughby. Friends said she had been “blindsided” by the move.
In April, the host’s younger brother Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child. He is due to be sentenced next week.
Schofield has been a regular presenter on This Morning since 2002 with Willoughby stepping in to the main co-host role in 2009.