Phillip Schofield quits This Morning – live: Amanda Holden appears to share dig at ITV presenter’s exit

Holly Willoughby has thanked her outgoing co-star Phillip Schofield for “13 great years presenting” after he announced he was leaving This Morning with immediate effect following a reported feud between the pair.

In a short statement after Schofield announced his departure, Willoughby thanked her former colleague for “all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.” She added: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him."

Schofield, 61, will not return to co-host the morning talk show. with last Thursday’s show being his last.

Willoughby will remain on the show and will “co-present with members of the This Morning family”, ITV said. However, Metro.co.uk reports that the broadcaster said she will take a break during the halftime, returning on Monday 5 June.

Schofield’s departure comes amid reports of a rift between Schofield and Willoughby, and after his brother, Timothy Schofield, was sentenced to 12 years in jail on Friday, after being convicted of child sex offences.

Meanwhile, ITV star Amanda Holden appeared to take a swipe at Schofield’s exit on Instagram just moments after he announced his departure.

Key Points

• Holly Willoughby issues statement after Phillip Schofield quits This Morning

• Willoughby to take break from This Morning after Schofield exit

• This Morning ‘became the story’: Schofield statement in full

• Schofield quits This Morning with ‘immediate effect'

• Amanda Holden appears to take a swipe at Schofield after quitting announcement

Holly Willoughby issues statement thanking outgoing co-star

05:00 , Peony Hirwani

Holly Willoughby has thanked her outgoing co-star for “13 great years presenting” after he announced he was leaving This Morning show with immediate effect following a reported feud between the pair.

In a short statement after Mr Schofield announced his departure, Ms Willoughby thanked her former colleague for “all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.”

She added: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”

Eamonn Holmes launches ruthless tirade against Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

05:30 , Peony Hirwani

ICYMI: Eamonn Holmes slammed his former This Morning colleagues Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in a blistering tirade on GB News on Monday (15 May).

Read more:

Eamonn Holmes launches ruthless attack on Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

What has Phillip Schofield said about his brother’s child sex offences?

04:45 , Peony Hirwani

The paedophile brother of This Morning host Phillip Schofield has been jailed over child sex offences.

Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child, after a trial at Exeter Crown Court.

Phillip has spoken out several times since the guilty verdict in April, publicly denouncing his sibling’s actions and even insisting he “no longer” has a brother.

Read more:

What has Phillip Schofield said about his brother’s child sex offences?

03:30 , Louis Chilton

The other Schofield story that’s been going on around the time of the This Morning drama...

Timothy Schofield, the presenter’s brother, has been jailed for child sex offenses. Schofield gave testimony at his brother’s trial, and issued a statement on social media “disowning” him.

Phillip Schofield’s paedophile brother jailed for child sex offences

01:30 , Louis Chilton

A bit of background...

Here’s a full timeline of Schofield and Willoughby’s This Morning “fall-out”

What we know about the Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby ‘fall-out’

23:30 , Louis Chilton

Ulrika weighing in earlier this week...

Ulrika Jonsson says Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s ‘feud’ is ‘war of egos’

21:30 , Louis Chilton

When you’ve got other celebrities poking fun at you on live TV, it’s probably a sign that the end might be coming...

Jack Whitehall shocks Chris Ramsey with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby joke

19:30 , Louis Chilton

Lots of people on social media bringing up the political shadings of Willoughby and Schofield’s This Morning tenure.

This photo of the pair with ex-PM Boris Johnson is getting shared a lot...

17:45 , Louis Chilton

In case you missed it: a fuller write-up of the story of Schofield’s departure.

Phillip Schofield quits This Morning after ‘fall-out’ with Holly Willoughby

17:15 , Louis Chilton

Seems like some people are on board with this suggestion...

16:53 , Louis Chilton

Just in: ITV has confirmed its hosts for tomorrow’s episode of This Morning.

Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, who usually host the Friday edition of the series, will be stepping in for the day.

It is currently unclear who will be presenting for the rest of the week.

Read more:

ITV announces This Morning hosts on Monday after Phillip Schofield departure

16:45 , Louis Chilton

It was the kiss of death... for Phil’s This Morning tenure, perhaps.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby share awkward moment on This Morning

16:15 , Louis Chilton

Re-sharing this feature from Clare Morrison: “I’m not surprised by Phillip Schofield’s exit – it’s been a long time coming”

Opinion: Phillip Schofield’s exit has been a long time coming

15:45 , Louis Chilton

Schofield appeared to unintentionally hint at the “queuegate” scandal earlier this week, when he made a remark about not receiving an invite to the coronation.

Phillip Schofield asks ‘where’s our invite’ to Buckingham Palace on This Morning

15:15 , Louis Chilton

For some viewers, the writing had been on the wall for Schofield and Willoughby as a presenting duo ever since the “queuegate” scandal last year.

In case you need a refresher:

14:45 , Louis Chilton

ICYMI: Here’s an explainer on what we know about the “falling out” that lead to Schofield’s departure...

What we know about the Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby ‘fall-out’

14:15 , Louis Chilton

Schofield has been photographed in Cornwall, having (understandably) put some physical distance between himself and London amid the This Morning fallout.

13:45 , Louis Chilton

Phil’s final sign-off from This Morning, in case anyone was curious...

13:15 , Louis Chilton

Here’s a little video compilation of amusing highlights from Holly and Phil’s This Morning partnership down the years.

What happened to Holly and Phil? Here’s everything we know about their rumoured feud

12:46 , Roisin O'Connor

What we know about the Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby ‘fall-out’

Was that a sly dig from Eamonn Holmes?

12:01 , Roisin O'Connor

Shortly after the news broke that Schofield was quitting This Morning with immediate effect, Eamonn Holmes, who previously launched a tirade against the ITV host and his former colleague Holly Willoughby, appeared to reference it in a Twitter post.

Holmes, who left This Morning in 2022 after 15 years on the programme alongside his wife, Ruth Langsford, has made no attempt to hide his criticism of the duo who replaced him.

Sharing a sweet photo of his granddaughter, Emilia, he added the caption: “Pappa got a smacker Thank u Emilia. All in all that rounded off what turned out to be a good day.”

Many fans were quick to assume that the “good day” might have had something to do with Schofield’s announcement.

11:31 , Roisin O'Connor

After a week of rumours of a rift between This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, it has been announced that Schofield will leave the show “with immediate effect”.

His last time presenting the ITV programme was on Thursday 18 May, bringing his presenting role of 21 years to a sudden close.

Here’s what we know about the rumoured fallout between Schofield and Willoughby:

What we know about the Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby ‘fall-out’

What Phillip Schofield said about his relationship with Holly Willoughby

10:54 , Roisin O'Connor

ITV bosses were reportedly unhappy with Phillip Schofield’s extroardinary statement addressing rumours of an ongoing feud with his now-former This Morning co-host, Holly Willoughby.

Here’s a reminder of what he said at the time:

Phillip Schofield issues statement amid rumours of fall out with Holly Willoughby

Did Amanda Holden just throw shade at Phillip Scofield?

10:05 , Roisin O'Connor

Amanda Holden fans think the Britain’s Got Talent judge just took a swipe at Phillip Schofield, following his dramatic exit from ITV show This Morning.

Just minutes after Schofield announced he was leaving the show “with immediate effect”, Holden posted a picture of the “triumphant” emoji, showing an arm flexing its muscles, to her Instagram account.

Holden has previously appeared to express her dislike for Schofield, apparently blaming him for scuppering her chances of hosting This Morning while Willoughby was presenting I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in Australia.

Schofield said that any claim he played a role in Holden missing out on the gig as “malicious gossip”.

Holden previously took a swipe at Schofield after the infamous queuegate scandal, making a sly “get in line” dig while praising David Beckham for queueing for hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.

Holly Willoughby to take a break from This Morning after Phillip Schofield exit

08:54 , Roisin O'Connor

Holly Willoughby will take a break from presenting This Morning before she returns to take over the programme as its sole full-time host, ITV has said.

Metro.co.uk reports that ITV has confirmed Willoughby will return to the show on Monday 5 June, having taken an early half-term holiday that will begin on Monday 22 May.

ITV is expected to announce who will host the programme in the interim in due course.

The news comes after Willoughby shared a brief statement to her Instagram Story acknowledging Schofield’s departure. Schofield did not mention his former co-host in his own statement announcing that he was leaving the show with “immediate effect”.

What we know about the Holly-Phil ‘feud'

08:47 , Roisin O'Connor

After a week of rumours of a rift between This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, it has been announced that Schofield will leave the show “with immediate effect”.

His last time presenting the ITV programme was on Thursday 18 May, bringing his presenting role of 21 years to a sudden close.

Here’s what we know about the rumoured fallout between Schofield and Willoughby:

What we know about the Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby ‘fall-out’

OPINION: My sympathies lie with Holly and Phil – I broke up with my ‘Work Wife’ and it broke my heart

04:15 , Nick Ferris

Everyone needs a “work spouse”.

You start out as friends but pretty soon you are sharing pointed looks, finishing each other’s sandwiches and are, from the moment you walk through that office door in the morning, joined at the hip.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have co-hosted ITV’s This Morning for 14 years — they are the textbook definition of a “work wife” and “work husband”. Which is why it stings that their relationship has reportedly hit a rough patch.

Read more from Katie Edwards here:

Opinion: I broke up with my ‘Work Wife’ and it broke my heart

Schofield’s resignation comes days after he issued an “extraordinary statement” in bid to shore up his position

03:15 , Nick Ferris

Last saturday (13 May), Phillip Schofield issued an unprecedented statement in which he admitted “the last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”

At the time, he continued to insist that Holly Willoughby was his “rock”.

You can read more about the state of play just one week ago here:

Phillip Schofield issues statement amid rumours of fall out with Holly Willoughby

What we know about Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield ‘fall-out’

02:30 , Natalie Crockett

After a week of rumours of a rift between This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, it has been announced that Schofield will leave the show “with immediate effect”.

His last time presenting the ITV programme was on Thursday 18 May, bringing his presenting role of 21 years to a sudden close.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the This Morning co-hosts’ relationship is strained, and that they “barely speak” off camera.

Schofield acknowledged that “the last few weeks haven’t been easy”, but was initially keen to pour water on the claims, stating: “We’re the best of friends – as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone. Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her.”

Read everything we know about the pair’s rift’:

What we know about the Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby ‘fall-out’

What has Holly Willoughby said about Phillip Schofield leaving This Morning?

01:45 , Natalie Crockett

After more than a decade of presenting ITV’s flagship morning show together, Phillip Schofield’s onscreen partnership with Holly Willoughby has ended with the news that he is leaving the show.

Reacting to the news after weeks of speculation that all was not well between the pair, Ms Willoughby said: “It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.”

“The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”