Yahoo News Simon Cowell backs Amanda Holden in Phillip Schofield feud
Simon Cowell has offered his full support to Amanda Holden amid her feud with Phillip Schofield.
The Britain’s Got Talent boss has told how he called Holden to reassure her that her job as a judge on the ITV talent show was safe, despite rumours she was facing the axe after speaking out against Schofield.
Cowell, 59, told the Sun on Sunday: “I respect her for standing up for herself.
“Am I on her side? She’s back on the show. I can’t make it clearer than that.”
“People were ringing to ask if Amanda was going to be fired, and as her boss I called her to say that wasn’t the case.
Read more: ITV defends Phillip Schofield against Amanda Holden feud claims
“I wanted to give her that reassurance that it was never ever going to affect her relationship with me and Britain’s Got Talent.
“She is hired for the Champions version and any other shows she wants to do.
“Yes, I did respect her for standing up for herself. But I spoke to her as her employer and she appreciated the call.”
The X Factor boss added, with no reference to Schofield: “I don’t tolerate bullies in the work place. I can give you examples of that, but I don’t speak out about it, I prevent it.”
Holden, 48, and Schofield, 57, have become locked in a public feud over claims Schofield prevented Holden from getting the job of filling in for Holly Willoughby on This Morning when she went to Australia to present I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Holden had previously covered Willoughby’s maternity leave and was tipped to get the job. But the role went to Rochelle Humes after it was reported Schofield told ITV executives he didn’t want to work with Holden.
A spokesperson for ITV has said: "These reports are completely untrue. Presenters don't make decisions regarding who appears on the show."
Holden is believed to have raised the issue with ITV chief Kevin Lygo.
Read more: Piers Morgan defends Amanda Holden
She has spoken out about the feud with Schofield on her Heart FM radio breakfast show.
Holden told co-host Jamie Theakston: “I did offer to meet him for a coffee months ago, he didn’t reply to my text. What can I say?”
The end of another really sad weekend. When you try for 35 years to be the easiest, most fun person to work with and you read such hurtful and wildly untrue stories from nameless ‘sources’. Obviously I’ll take it on the chin.. I just hope you know me better.
— Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) June 23, 2019
Schofield has said he has been very upset by the reports about his working manner off-camera.
He tweeted: “When you try for 35 years to be the easiest, most fun person to work with and you read such hurtful and wildly untrue stories from nameless ‘sources’. Obviously I’ll take it on the chin.. I just hope you know me better.”
