Holly Willoughby returns to This Morning amid behind-the-scenes tug of war over her co-star’s future

Holly Willoughby will be back on the This Morning couch with co-star Phillip Schofield for the first time in over a month on Monday after a bout of shingles, she has revealed.

Her sick leave meant she missed Mr Schofield’s first day after his own three-week break due to his brother’s convictions for child crimes.

But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that there is some behind-the-scenes tug-of-war over the future of the show – specifically whether there should be a reshuffling of the presenting staff.

The main issue, say ITV insiders, is what to do with Mr Schofield. Some think it’s time for the 61-year-old to take a step back after more than two decades of presenting the programme, having noticed how some of the more than one million viewers seem to have grown tired of him.

As part of their strategy to listen to their audiences, ITV chefs monitor social media to see how fans react to their stars. Not only is there a lot of negativity about Mr Schofield, but there are also petitions on the internet asking for the channel to get rid of him.

Their views have certainly been compounded by the success of Alison Hammond, described by some as the ‘savior of This Morning’ after being promoted from show business interviewer to lead presenter 15 months ago.

Their views have certainly been exacerbated by Alison Hammond’s success

It has launched an idea into the minds of ITV chefs – to bring a little ‘girl power’ into the show.

A source said: ‘It’s a case of both things colliding. Fans say they’re over Phil and they love Alison.”

There’s no denying that Mr Schofield has his loyalists on the channel – most of them in the upper echelons. He is also signed to the powerful YMU talent agency which is said to have significant power over ITV.

This Morning’s editor, Martin Frizell, is perhaps one of his staunchest supporters and is said to have “taken several bullets” for Mr Schofield in recent years.

But Mrs. Hammond is getting more and more powerful, especially as other channels try to steal her.

Last month she was revealed as the new host of The Great British Bake Off, something that ‘dazzled’ ITV chefs.

Ms Willoughby, 42, is also said to ‘adore’ Ms Hammond, as ITV bosses fall over themselves to show her love – despite some ignoring her for all but years, having once dismissed her as the sparkly showbiz girl.

Even Mr Frizell must be confused as it was his idea to appoint a black presenter named Ms Hammond, 48.

There’s no denying that Mr Schofield has his loyalists on the channel – most of them in the upper echelons. He is also signed to the powerful YMU talent agency

If Mr. Schofield were to leave, it would mean an end to one of television’s most famous partnerships – ‘Holly and Phil’ or ‘Phil and Holly’ which he would prefer.

They were once inseparable and shared their off-air escapades live on air or on their social media. Ms Willoughby’s most recent Instagram post about her co-star was promotional material for Dancing On Ice, which they co-host.

Some ITV staff were – perhaps wrongly – skeptical about Ms Willoughby’s illness last week, which they said was ‘perfect timing’ for her not to have to sit next to Mr Schofield as he thanked fans for their support during his painful ordeal at his brother. beliefs.

However, sources close to Ms Willoughby insist she struggled to shake off the illness until last Friday, so there was no way she could have starred in This Morning.

Meanwhile, she has forged a close friendship with Mrs. Hammond. Not only was she at her birthday party in March (at which Mr Schofield was conspicuously absent), Ms Willoughby also introduced Ms Hammond to her ‘girl gang’, which includes former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and All Saints singer Nicole Appleton.

Last month, when Mr Schofield said goodbye while his brother Timothy was on trial, she joined Ms Willoughby for two days in what ITV bosses saw as a ‘massive triumph’

Another issue facing This Morning bosses is the loss of Josie Gibson, 38, the hugely popular former Big Brother star who is a stand-in presenter, usually paired with Craig Doyle.

It’s clear she’s getting frustrated with not getting enough airtime and considering her options elsewhere.

That can get awkward because one of her agents is Maddy Lygo, the daughter of ITV’s television executive, Kevin Lygo.

Some of the show’s staff have questioned why Ms. Hammond didn’t replace Ms. Willoughby, at least during part of last week’s four-day period.

Last month, when Mr Schofield said goodbye while his brother Timothy was on trial, she joined Ms Willoughby for two days in what ITV bosses saw as a ‘massive triumph’.

Instead, Mr Schofield was flanked by Rochelle Humes, 34, the singer turned presenter he insisted on covering for Ms Willoughby in place of Amanda Holden as she presented I’m A Celeb in 2018.

He is thought to prefer Mrs. Humes, perhaps seeing her as more malleable, unlike his other outspoken female television partners, including Fern Britton and Mrs. Holden.