Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will host This Morning on Monday, ITV has confirmed after Phillip Schofield was dropped from the programme.
It was revealed earlier today that Phil’s fate was sealed on Friday’s flagship breakfast show when his 14-year-old co-star Holly Willoughby allegedly gave the channel an ultimatum – either Phil would leave the sofa or she would.
After announcing on Instagram yesterday that he was leaving after 21 years amid a feud with his co-host and former best friend, the former presenter told those close to him that he was “hung out to dry” by the This Morning bosses “ had been.
Holly, who Phil has co-hosted since 2009, will remain on the show but will take early semi-annual leave next week and will return on June 5th.
Alison and Dermot, who co-host the show on Fridays, will be on the sofa in their absence on Monday morning and, given their experience, are strong contenders to fill Phil’s role permanently.
However, ITV has yet to confirm a permanent replacement, nor has it confirmed who will host for the remainder of the week.
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will host This Morning on Monday, ITV has confirmed after Phillip Schofield was dropped from the programme
Phil’s fate was sealed after Holly Willoughby reportedly gave the network an ultimatum – either Phil would leave the sofa or she would
Phil appeared dejected and saddened while on the phone the day after he was banned from Friday’s This Morning presentation
Alison, 48, is currently bookmaker Ladbrokes’ favorite to take on the role, giving her odds of 2/1.
She rose to fame as a Big Brother contestant in 2002 and joined This Morning as a reporter later that same year.
During her two decades at ITV, she was lauded for her ability to make even the biggest A-listers laugh.
Martin Frizell, the veteran editor of This Morning, is keen to set Holly up with Alison, whom he promoted to presenter two years ago.
Dermot, 49, who has acted as a presenter on the show over the years, was rated 4/1 by Ladbrokes.
There are other contenders for a permanent spot on one of Britain’s most popular daytime TV shows, too.
Saturdays singer Rochelle Hunt and her husband JLS star Marvin Humes are among the contestants, as are Rylan Clark, Josie Gibson and Gino D’Acampo.
ITV, meanwhile, said Holly will continue to host the show with “members of the This Morning family”.
Photos released today showed Phil looking dejected and dejected as he sat in his car with his mum on the day he left ITV’s ‘This Morning’ – having fled 300 miles from London to Cornwall.
Alison, 48, is currently bookmaker Ladbrokes’ favorite to take on the role, giving her odds of 2/1
Dermot, 49, who has acted as a presenter on the show over the years, was rated 4/1 by Ladbrokes
Alison and Dermot, who co-host the show on Fridays, will be on the sofa in their absence on Monday morning
Holly and Phil struck a truce in a private conversation and Phil agreed to leave the show. The deal secures him a new gig as a solo presenter – and can keep talks open about his future on other shows like Dancing On Ice.
The veteran presenter, who he said was pictured on Saturday, looked tired and serious as he sat in the front of the vehicle with his mother and engaged in what appeared to be tense phone conversations.
Phil was photographed after what was now his final show, spending two hours with his 85-year-old mother in the vehicle in a car park in Cornwall on the day the channel revealed his fate.
In the picture, he was pictured steaming and staring out to sea while his body language appeared dejected.
Phil has little left of his friendship with Willoughby after not telling her about his brother’s child abuse case.
An ITV source told the Mirror last night: “Phil’s fate was decided on Friday.” It was a unanimous decision that he had to leave.
“He was upset but adamant that if he did leave, he wanted to keep his roles on The Cube, the British Soap Awards and Dancing on Ice – importantly, with or without Holly.”
Disturbed TV presenter Phillip Schofield sits in his car next to his 85-year-old mother in Cornwall
Phil spent two hours steaming and looking out to sea while talking on the phone from his vehicle
Sources say it’s hard to imagine how the couple’s friendship could ever recover from the falling out
“Everything went as smoothly as possible, but behind the scenes he’s been telling his friends he’s been hung out to dry.” And his friendship with Holly is now in tatters.
“It’s hard to imagine how it could recover.” “The fact that he chose to specifically thank the people who supported him — and the viewers — without mentioning them says it all.”
The once inseparable couple had grown increasingly estranged in recent months, but the split became final after Phil kept 42-year-old Holly in the dark about his brother’s child abuse trial.
Phillip left the show after frantic meetings with his representatives and top ITV bosses. They agreed on a compromise under which he was promised he would be able to host a new show on his own and that talks would continue on existing shows, The Mirror reported.
He made a stark statement on social media thanking fans for their support, but made no mention of Holly at all.
Described as a “broken man”, Phil is believed to have made every effort to see through to the end and it took “a lot of persuasion” before he agreed to an immediate termination. That means his last appearance on This Morning was last Thursday.
A source told The Sun: “ITV bosses had to choose which horse to support – Phil or Holly.” And it was clear where their allegiance lay.”
They added, “Holly is the real winner from all of this as she emerged victorious and with class.”
Phillip Schofield was sensationally ousted from This Morning yesterday after co-star Holly Willoughby told ITV bosses she no longer wanted to work with him
The next day, Phil issued a stark statement on social media, confirming that he had made the decision to leave the show
Schofield’s retreat to scenic Cornwall is said to have been an attempt to avoid the limelight
Described as a “broken man,” Schofield is believed to have worked hard to stay tuned to the end
Phil said in his brief statement: “I’ve always prided myself on covering fascinating stories on This Morning.” But lately, This Morning has become a story itself.
“Throughout my career in television – including the very difficult last few days – I have always tried my best to be honorable and kind.
“I understand that ITV has decided the current situation cannot continue and I want to do what I can to protect the show I love.”
“As such, I have agreed to step down from This Morning, effective immediately, in the hope that the show can see a bright future.”
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me – especially the amazing This Morning viewers.”
The decision was made late Friday after days of crisis meetings at ITV. It was decided to make the announcement yesterday to give Phil time to leave his west London home, take a break and escape the limelight.
Phil issued a stark statement on social media thanking fans for their support, but made no mention of Holly at all
Thursday’s ITV show, which ended with Holly saying “See you Monday!” while Phil simply said “Bye”, sparked speculation from viewers that he knew it would be his last time on the sofa “This Morning”.
The couple both commented on Phil’s departure from the show, with Holly Willoughby saying, “The sofa won’t be the same without him.”
Pictured is Gino D’Acampo making good on his promise that if they won the NTA Awards he would cook naked on This Morning
The split between the couple, pictured in 2014, became final after Schofield failed to tell Holly about his brother’s child molestation trial
Former close friends Schofield and Willoughby, pictured together on Dancing on Ice in 2006, had become increasingly estranged in recent months
Not only is he said to have lost his job, but he is also dismayed at the 11 convictions of his former community police officer, brother Timothy, on child molestation charges. His brother was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday.
It is also revealed that there was much argument as to what the exit strategy would be, whether he left immediately or held out until the summer break and quietly not returned.
Holly, finding it difficult to sit next to him lately, hoped the situation would be resolved sooner rather than later.
It comes after weeks of arguments between the one-time king and queen of daytime television. Holly, who is described as “quietly smart” by those who know her, is said to have told ITV she could no longer sit on the sofa with him while making it clear she wants to stay.
A source said, “It was basically an ultimatum, Holly won the war.” “We say what Holly wants, Holly gets, and a truer word has never been spoken.”
Holly also has the full support of Martin Frizell, This Morning’s veteran editor.
Holly, who is described by her acquaintances as ‘secretly smart’, is said to have told ITV she could no longer share the sofa with Schofield (pictured on holiday in Dubai in 2016).
Holly said she was “never so proud” of Schofield when he came out as gay in 2020
Presenters have been accused of queuing for last year’s Queen’s funeral, which they denied saying they were working
The couple were once the king and queen of daytime television. Her reign on This Morning began in 2009
However, Phil had the support of Frizell’s boss, ITV daytime head Emma Gormley.
Insiders are calling Phil and Ms. Gormley the “losers” in this affair.
This comes after Holly was also “sad and upset” after Phil released a statement on the state of their friendship earlier in the month without consulting her.
She made a brief statement yesterday. She wrote: “It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all his knowledge, experience and humor.
“The sofa won’t feel the same without him.” She signed the statement with a pink heart emoji.
ITV chief executive Kevin Lygo said: “Phillip is undoubtedly one of the best broadcasters of his generation and we thank him for his two decades of absolutely amazing TV shows on the This Morning sofa.”
“This Morning is produced by one of the finest and hardest working teams in television, producing over 12 hours of live television each week.”
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Phillip, starting with the British Soap Awards in June and a brand new Peak Time series.”
ITV sources are now expecting an upheaval at Dancing On Ice, the other show that Holly and Phil co-present.
One said: “Again, someone needs to pull out, there’s no way we’ll ever work together again.”
The Mail on Sunday first revealed the co-stars’ relationship was strained after they were accused of waiting in line to pay their respects at the Resurrection of the Queen last year.
But it was the aftermath of the lawsuit against Phil’s brother that finally destroyed the failing friendship.
The Mail on Sunday also revealed last week how a runner who had worked with Phil “mysteriously” quit his role on This Morning after forging a close friendship with the presenter.
The man, in his 20s, joined the ITV show Loose Women before leaving the channel entirely.