Yahoo News Eamonn Holmes: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield's double act is broken
The former This Morning host seized on the rumours of tension between the presenting duo and suggested it is time for them to step down.
Eamonn Holmes has claimed the friendship between Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield is "broken" and This Morning no longer needs them.
The former This Morning host seized on the rumours of tension between the presenting duo and suggested it is time for them to step down from hosting the ITV daytime show.
Holmes, 63, said on his GB News show of their absence from the TV Baftas: "I think there should have been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors.
Read more: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: Their on-screen history together
"They may or may not be together on the telly today. He's brought in lawyers, she's brought in a PR team. The public surely will suss that there's no chemistry, that it's a broken fit between the two of them and that This Morning does not depend on who presents it.
"It's an institution, it will carry on no matter who presents it and anyone can check the viewing figures, there's no difference between whether they present it or anyone else."
The Northern Irish presenter guest hosted the ITV daytime show on and off since 2006 with his wife Ruth Langsford, only to be axed after 15 years in 2021. He has since accused ITV of being "sly" in its handling of his departure from the show.
Meanwhile, Schofield issued a statement to The Sun on Thursday 11 May in response to the feud rumours.
He said: "As I have said before, 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.”
There have been reports of tension between Willoughby, 42, and Schofield, 61, ever since 2022's Queuegate controversy.
The presenters came under fired over accusations they "jumped the queue" at the late Queen's lying in state at London's Westminster Hall in September.
Schofield has insisted he has nothing to apologise for.
Willoughby said in a statement on the show: "Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall.
"We of course respected those rules however we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore we totally understand the reaction.
Read more: Eamonn Holmes jokes about queue-gate row
"Please know that we would never jump a queue."
Watch: Holly Willoughby's best fashion moments
