Phillip Schofield surprised by Lorraine to celebrate 40 years on TV

Watch Phillip Schofield being surprised by Lorraine Kelly on live TV

Phillip Schofield was surprised in the make-up room by Lorraine Kelly to celebrate 40 years of being on TV.

The 59-year-old This Morning presenter — who began his TV career at the age of 19 on a youth music programme in New Zealand — looked unprepared as Kelly appeared with a camera and microphone to invite him onto Lorraine for a look back at his career.

Schofield gasped: "What are you like?! I'd love to. I haven't got a mic on."

Once they were comfortably seated in the studio Kelly told him: "I loved working with you on This Morning. Do you remember when Fern wanted a wee day off?

Read more: Holly Willoughby stunned as Phillip Schofield gives her a piece of the moon

"I used to just toddle over and you were so kind and welcoming and easy. It was just like talking to a pal."

Schofield then paid tribute to his This Morning co-host of 13 years Holly Willoughby.

The pair had already worked together on Dancing On Ice and Schofield recommended her as his new co-host when Fern Britton left the daytime show in 2009.

He said: "When Fern decided to leave and discussions were starting, I said there's only one person it has to be Holly."

Willoughby, 41, said: "I don't know why you were so certain but I'm so glad but if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have got that job."

She added: "You are so generous, so kind, so patient, willing to just guide me through it."

Kelly commented: "It's a genuine friendship, there's a mutual friendship."

Willoughby agreed: "It would be hard to do it if we weren't friends."

Schofield agreed: "I don't think you could do this amount of telly if we weren't friends."

Britton, 64, has said she was treated "poorly" on the show before she spontaneously resigned.

She send a video message to Schofield saying: "40 years is an incredible milestone and it's time for you to just stop and look back at all you've achieved and be proud of it. I'm wishing you a very happy future. Congratulation, and keep going."

Other stars to surprise Schofield included This Morning regular Miriam Margolyes from Australia, his old Going Live! co-presenter Emma Forbes from Los Angeles and the New Zealand producer who gave him his big break.

Schofield was reunited live with his old CBBC Broom Cupboard puppet co-star Gordon The Gopher and his successor Andi Peters.

Peters revealed: "When I was 17 years old I wrote to Phillip Schofield and I was sent a signed picture of Phillip Schofield. I sent the picture back to the BBC and said I didn't ask for a picture I asked for some advice from Phillip.

"They sent back the picture, and on the back it said, 'I wish you every success in your career maybe one day you'll have a job like mine.'"

Read more: Eamonn Holmes blasts 'sly' ITV for the way it handled his 'This Morning' departure

"Phillip this programme has been a joy to watch. Thank you for everything you've done, because without you I probably wouldn't have a career, albeit on the back of a very small photograph."

Former This Morning hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan, TV chef Gino D’Acampo and fellow Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat star Jason Donovan also sent messages of support and congratulations.

Watch: Phillip Schofield get the giggles on This Morning after guest breaks wind