'This Morning' drops Spin to Win energy bill prize following backlash

This Morning has dropped energy bills and household bills as winnable prizes from their Spin to Win game after significant backlash.

A longstanding tradition of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby's tenure as This Morning hosts, the Spin to Win game was given an update earlier this week.

A number of the prizes on offer would see the show cover the costs of the winner's energy bills for four months in what was interpreted as a reference to the rapid increase in cost of living and energy bills in recent months.

Read more: Phillip Schofield hits back at 'This Morning' critics

The move to offer energy bills being paid as a prize was met with fierce criticism online with many comparing to dystopian sci-fi film The Running Man and Charlie Brooker's satirical show Black Mirror. There were also people who compared the move to Netflix hit Squid Game.

Schofield did sarcastically reference the online backlash on yesterday's episode, commenting: “I wonder how much of that they can complain about online."

As of 7 September, energy bills have been removed as a prize in the game replaced by the standard cash prize which can be used on anything though Schofield did comment the money can be used to pay for bills.

On 5 September, the Spin to Win contestant did win the prize of having their energy bills paid for the rest of 2022.

During the broadcast, Schofield asked the contestant if they were worried about the cost of energy to which they replied: “Oh, major. I’ve got one of these pre-payment meters and it’s absolutely murder.”

After the contestant won, they commented: “Oh my god, thank you. Fantastic. What a relief.”

Schofield and Willoughby were also criticised after a clip of them interviewing Boris Johnson resurfaced on Twitter. In the video, they ask the then-Prime Minister for a selfie.

Watch below: This Morning changes 'energy bills' prize to 'household bills' following backlash.