This Morning: Alison Hammond pays tribute to 'best live television broadcaster' Phillip Schofield

Watch: This Morning pays tribute to Phillip Schofield after his departure

Alison Hammond has hailed Phillip Schofield as "the best live television broadcaster this country has ever had" as she paid tribute to him on This Morning.

Schofield, 61, announced in a statement on Friday 19 May that he was stepping down from the ITV daytime show after 21 years, following ongoing rumours of a feud between him and co-host Holly Willoughby.

Hammond opened the show on Monday 22 May by saying: "Now we can't start today's show without paying tribute to the man who has been on the sofa for two decades."

Read more: Eamonn Holmes: Holly Willoughby 'stabbed Phillip Schofield in the back'

Dermot O’Leary added: "Everyone on and off the screen wants to say a big thank you for the man who helped make this show a success."

Hammond said: "We all know he’s one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had."

O'Leary then confirmed that Willoughby is taking a break a week early for the school half-term holidays and will return to the This Morning sofa on Monday 5 June.

Many viewers commented on the awkwardness of the announcement.

One tweeted: "Alison looked so uncomfortable doing that ‘tribute’ to Phillip #thismorning"

Another said: "Christ, Dermot looks like he's announcing that someone died talking about Schofield leaving #ThisMorning. The only thing that has died Dermot is Phillip Schofield's career and ITV's integrity."

And the 'tribute' which featured a publicity photograph of Schofield shown on screen and no video, was also criticised by viewers.

One commented: "It's still only 10.04am and the "tribute" to @Schofefor his 20-odd years on the sofa is already done n dusted.... #ThisMorning isn't even #ThisMourning lol "

Another pointed out: "The tribute to Phil was less than the Countdown clock #thismorning."

And another observed: "They didn’t waste time changing the opening credits. #thismorning #philwho"

Schofield became host of This Morning in 2002, co-presenting with Fern Britton.

There were rumours of a feud between him and Britton, 65, before she was replaced by Willoughby in 2009.

There have been reports of a behind-the-scenes feud between Willoughby and Schofield 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.

Read more: Phillip Schofield leaves This Morning: The timeline of events

Willoughby has yet to address all the speculation about the state of the pair's relationship.

But Schofield spoke out, insisting that Willoughby is his "rock" and that they are still close.

Watch: Eamonn Holmes says Holly stabbed Phillip in the back