Phillip Schofield mocks Holly Willoughby’s iconic “are you OK?” line during TV comeback

Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby
-Credit: (Image: Pixel8000)


Phillip Schofield took a dig at his former best friend Holly Willoughby by mocking her iconic This Morning intro after his departure from the show.

In the wake of Schofield's exit, Holly had asked viewers, "Firstly, are you OK?" During his new Channel 5 program, Schofield made it clear that there’s little love left between them. While enjoying a BBQ with his wife and two daughters, he quipped, "If you're okay, then we're okay, and I'm okay. Are you okay?"

Thw comment signals a jab at Willoughby, who was once considered his on-screen partner. It wasn’t the only instance in the opening episode where he appeared to take shots at his former colleagues, reports the Mirror. While biting into a piece of fruit, he remarked, "It’s going through an angry, bitter stage... like some television presenters, haha."

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Schofield described his exit from ITV as the "biggest grenade going off in your life." His departure came after revelations of a years-long affair with a younger male staff member on This Morning. He referred to the situation as "unwise but not illegal" and left the show in May 2023, stating, "This Morning itself has become the story," before leaving ITV entirely a week later.

Phillip Schofield on an island off the coast of Madagascar, on Channel 5's Cast Away. -Credit:Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited/PA Wire
Phillip Schofield on an island off the coast of Madagascar, on Channel 5's Cast Away. -Credit:Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited/PA Wire

Throughout his struggles, Schofield expressed deep gratitude for his daughters, Ruby and Molly, crediting them as the reason he is still alive after experiencing suicidal thoughts. Despite the fallout from his affair, he remains close to his wife, Stephanie, and continues to wear his wedding ring while filming Phillip Schofield: Cast Away on a tropical island off Madagascar.

Daughter Molly noted that everything the family has endured has brought them "closer," adding: "We've seen him at his lowest, but I've been so proud of him. It’s heartbreaking to see the love people had for him taken away." She expressed gratitude for her parents' continued friendship, saying, "I’m the luckiest person ever."

Stephanie also shared her perspective, stating, "What people don’t realise is that while they batter you, there are other people affected." She acknowledged that by sharing his story, Schofield is "popping his head back above the parapet for the very few horrid people out there."

The first episode opens with Schofield being asked why he chose to tackle the challenge of surviving alone on a deserted island. He responded: "I think there'd be a lot of people who hope I never come back."

Phillip Schofield is returning to to mainstream TV after signing up for a new show - 16-months after his departure from This Morning.
Phillip Schofield is returning to to mainstream TV after signing up for a new show - 16-months after his departure from This Morning.

Reflecting on his time at This Morning, he called it a "joy" and a "privilege," recognizing how fortunate he has been during his more than four decades in television.

"When it came to a sudden, very abrupt end, you realize one minute you’re there, and the next minute you’re gone. You know what it feels like to be canceled," he said. "It’s like the biggest grenade going off in your life. You let people down, you let yourself down. It was unwise and unprofessional, and I will be forever sorry. I screwed up, I made a mistake, and I hurt the people around me."

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