Phillip Schofield could make a move to Channel 5 or even return to the West End, PR experts say 

Phillip Schofield has been tipped to present a rival morning TV show on Channel 5 or return to the West End after leaving This Morning with immediate effect.

The 61-year-old star could get a multi-million pound deal from the broadcaster that could rival the ITV program he hosted for 21 years, pundits told MailOnline.

He might also decide to ‘hit the stage’ again in the West End or a panto run for big bucks after his stage success as the lead in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline he predicts Channel 5, who has been courting the BBC’s Dan Walker for £1.5m a year, will wait in the wings to offer Schofield a deal of the same size for a morning TV show.

Mr Ede said: ‘He’s a bankable star and still a big name for many’, adding that due to his past as a BBC Radio 1 DJ he could also return to the Beeb and perhaps lure listeners back to Radio 2.

“He was a very big musical star selling out West End shows like Joseph and Dr Doolittle, he might consider getting back on stage or touring in a pantomime,” he added.

PR master Mark Borkowski told MailOnline: “He’s an aging talent. These are turbulent times for him. He is haunted by so many negative stories.’

He said ITV had people on screen trying to replace him even before announcing he was leaving the show.

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline that Schofield could eventually leave ITV, perhaps to set up a rival for Channel 5’s This Morning, which is splashing money around to sign stars like Dan Walker.

He said: ‘I think Phillip is a very popular TV presenter who has had many successful years on screen. He still has a lot of fans and I think that while his onscreen relationship may be wavering, he will have many other opportunities. He is a bankable star. His popularity will make him overcome the current hurdles he faces.”

He added: ‘Maybe another broadcaster will take him on or he will do radio for a while, because that is also lucrative and popular, and he has a great knowledge of music’.

In a statement released Saturday, Phillip said: ‘I’ve always taken pride in writing fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.

“During my career in TV – including the very difficult past few days – I have always tried my best to be honorable and kind.

“I understand that ITV has decided that the current situation cannot continue and I want to do what I can to protect the show I love.

So I’ve agreed to step down from This Morning effective immediately, in hopes that the show has a bright future.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me – especially the wonderful viewers of This Morning – and I’ll see you all next month at the Soap Awards.”

Holly Willoughby broke her silence after Schofield’s exit statement, which made no mention of his co-star and boyfriend.

She said: ‘It’s been over 13 amazing years presenting This Morning with Phil and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him for all his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The bank won’t feel the same without him.’

So what next for the show launched in 1988 and fronted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan? Alison Hammond of course.

ITV bosses can’t get enough of the presenter, whom they’ve relegated to the showbiz beat for years.

She is at the center of their 35th anniversary in October and is tipped to join Ms Willoughby as the program’s full-time presenter.

As for Mrs. Willoughby, she has grown closer to Mrs. Hammond.

The two recently enjoyed a night out together, with Ms. Willoughby introducing the former Big Brother star, 48, to her celebrity friends, including Emma Bunton and Nicole Appleton.

Phillip took a period of pre-scheduled leave last month surrounding his brother’s sexual assault trial at Exeter Crown Court.

Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of 11 sex offenses involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two for sexual activity with a child.

After this controversial period, Schofield stunned Ms Willoughby and his ITV colleagues when he made a statement to The Sun saying: ‘As I’ve said before, Holly is my rock.

“We’re the best of friends — as always, she’s been 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.

“The past few weeks have not been easy for either of us. And Holly’s support meant everything to me, as did the support from my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our wonderful viewers.

“And, of course, Holly herself has been sick with shingles.

Off-screen, the pair are said to be “barely speaking.”

There has been talk of why their 14-year reign as ‘besties’ is over, but the Mail has been told that the crux of the row is a dispute over whether Schofield confided in Mrs Willoughby that his brother Timothy, an IT police officer charged with child crimes.

Friends say Ms Willoughby was in the dark until Schofield took a week’s leave from the ITV daytime show to avoid the spotlight while the trial took place last month – something he is happy to deny.

Sources close to Ms Willoughby claim she was ‘deeply upset’ that she found out what happened through a third party.

One told MailOnline: ‘The statement came out of the blue for Holly and was disturbing. What a betrayal. It feels like he’s taking care of himself for Phil here, with no regard for her.

Not so long ago, the two were undeniably close.

After a National Television Awards win in 2016, they showed up to their slot seemingly hungover from celebrating the night before.

And in 2020, when Schofield left his family and told viewers he was gay live on This Morning, Mrs Willoughby was by his side. He described her as his “rock.”

Her support at such a crucial time in his life makes it all the more surprising that Schofield would keep the allegations against his brother a secret.

He says Mrs. Willoughby was his “absolute rock” again, but her friends tell a different story.

One says, “Holly had to find out from someone else, which must have been terrible for her. She has been so faithful to him.

“It’s been upsetting for her, they’ve been pretty inseparable for 14 years. They have been through so much together, some happy and some very hard. But now their once close friendship is no more.’

Yesterday, a spokesperson for the 42-year-old declined to comment on whether she was kept in the dark about the lawsuit. Schofield said it was “categorically untrue.”

Of course, it was 61-year-old Schofield who chose Ms. Willoughby as his new sidekick in 2009 after Fern Britton left the show.

But now, ironically, it seems she will surpass him in the program he has presented for 21 years.

Ms Willoughby has ‘no plans to leave’ according to sources close to her.