Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield appear back on This Morning

TV couple Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield made brave faces as they appeared on screen today after claims they ‘are not as close as they once were’ and now barely speak off camera.

On today’s show on ITV, the presenting duo presented a segment about fake tan – and they’ll also talk about people’s embarrassing moments caused by their mobile phones.

Holly and Phil became ‘good friends’ after first meeting on Dancing on Ice and they have co-presented This Morning since 2009. She was also described as his ‘rock’ when he came out as gay live on 2020 on This Morning.

But their relationship would come under strain in recent months. They came under fire when they were accused of skipping the line to see the Queen in state last September.

Mr Schofield took three weeks off in March as his brother was convicted of child offences. In his absence, Holly was linked to Alison Hammond and ITV bosses are said to be overjoyed with their chemistry and his now looking for more possibilities to link them.

And Holly, 42, has reportedly made it clear she wants to continue hosting the ITV daytime show if Phil, 61, ever expressed interest in leaving.

An insider told The sun: ‘Holly loves This Morning and for the first time in 14 years she has made it clear that if Phil ever left, she would want to stay. They are separate entities. It has become an open secret that things are not as rosy as they used to be.

“It has recently become clear to those around them on set that Holly and Phil are not as close as they once were. Professionally you wouldn’t know anything was going on, because they do exactly the same on camera, but behind the scenes their relationship has cooled down.’

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield host an article about fake tans on ITV’s This Morning today

The same sources said Holly and Phil’s off-camera chatter and “comradeship” wasn’t the same and had “diminished.”

An insider also claimed that the pair don’t talk to each other much except on camera while hosting This Morning.

Another insider added: ‘It has become an open secret that things are not as rosy as they once were, however Holly has made her point clear and that is that she wants to remain at the heart of This Morning.’

Phil has had a tumultuous few months, taking a break from work when his brother was convicted of child crimes.

Holly and Phil faced backlash over claims they ‘skipped the line’ at Westminster Hall to see the Queen laid out

‘Their relationship has cooled off’: It is alleged that Holly made it clear she would continue to host the ITV daytime show if Phillip ever expressed interest in leaving

Schofield returned to This Morning after three weeks and thanked viewers for their support after his brother was convicted of child abuse

‘Not so close’: The duo have been presenting This Morning together for 14 years, but their relationship has reportedly come under strain in recent months

It’s been rumored that behind the scenes of the show, there’s been some trouble for a while now and the pair are reportedly further away than ever.

MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Holly and Phil for comment. ITV declined to comment.

The presenting duo have been working together for over a decade after Holly took over from Fern Britton as Phil’s co-host in 2009.

Holly joined the This Morning team three years after she started Dancing On Ice in 2006, while Phil first appeared on the chat show four years earlier in 2002.

Holly and Phil have since left viewers in hysterics with their on and off screen antics.

The presenting duo (pictured in November 2009) have been working together for over a decade after Holly took over from Fern Britton as Phillip’s co-host in 2009.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s relationship has ‘cooled off’ off screen and the co-hosts are ‘not as close as they once were’, it is claimed

They’ve spoken before about their close bond and how This Morning is like a “family” to them rather than just a job.

After returning to the show after his annual summer break last August, Phil described the show as a “support group” for him.

“It’s like ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!’ Everyone knows everything about everyone, and that’s nice… so I always miss that friendship group,” he explained.

“This Morning is more than just a show, it’s such a great group of people to work with and you miss that – it’s not really a job.

“It’s more than a job, it’s much more than that…and I’m not going to lie, This Morning is one of my support groups and it’s nice to have.”

Holly echoed Phil’s sentiments when she described the show as “one big family.”

Phil previously described their friendship as “sensitive, kind, intuitive, spiritual and a friend,” while Holly called him “playful, very loyal, kind, very funny and a friend.”

They are notorious for their funny antics on the breakfast show, which had fans bursting into laughter when they arrived at the show wearing the night before’s attire after a boozy night at the 2016 National Television Awards.

Holly and Phillip (pictured in 2012) have previously spoken about their close bond and raved about how This Morning is a ‘family’ to them rather than just a job

The pair (pictured in 2012) have left viewers hysterical with their on and off screen antics

And the pair reflected on their raucous antics in 2019, as they nostalgically celebrated their 10th anniversary together on This Morning.

On the occasion of the milestone, Phil said at the time: ‘They always say ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ and we had such a ball, so much fun together and so time flew by.

While Holly added: ‘It doesn’t feel like 10 years. It went super fast, but it was so great. The best grade I’ve gotten from that time is that it’s the same age as [my son] Harry.

“So, as I’ve watched him grow, I know how long I’ve been on This Morning, so that’s always a visual reminder of how long I’ve been there.”