Alison Hammond publicly showed support for her ex-colleague and friend Phillip Schofield on Sunday amid his rumored TV comeback.
The former This Morning presenter, 62, returned to social media last month and has since regularly posted pictures of his pet.
Phillip had been in hiding for almost a year after admitting he had an affair with a much younger colleague.
But over the past month, almost a year after he quit the daytime show, he has slowly returned to the public eye with a flurry of appearances.
After Declan Donnelly showed his support for Phillip, it seems Alison has rebuilt her trust and friendship with the estranged TV star.
Alison Hammond, 49, publicly showed support for her ex-colleague and friend Phillip Schofield, 62, on Sunday amid his rumored TV comeback
After Declan Donnelly showed his support for Phillip, it appears Alison has now rebuilt her trust and friendship with the estranged TV star (pictured together in 2022).
On Sunday night, Alison liked Phillip’s latest Instagram post, a photo of his pet.
In March 2024, Alison broke her silence on Phillip’s affair scandal, but wouldn’t say much.
Speaking on This Morning, she said: ‘As for the ‘issues’ mentioned… Listen. I don’t want to get involved in salacious gossip.
“All I want to say is that I personally wish Phillip Schofield all the best. I loved Phillip Schofield. Point. But that’s the last thing I’d want to talk about.’
It comes after Phillip was photographed in London in early May looking relaxed as he laughed and joked with close friend Dec and his wife Ali Astall.
He had reportedly just enjoyed a four-hour dinner with ITV’s golden boy at a restaurant close to their home when they were spotted hysterical.
Phillip followed that up days later by ending his nearly year-long social media blackout by reviving his Instagram with a sweet photo of Alfie watching Formula 1.
Daughters Ruby, 27, and Molly, 30, as well as This Morning co-host Josie Gibson rushed to like the post within minutes in a clear sign of support.
The former This Morning presenter returned to social media last month and has since regularly posted photos of his pet
Phillip had been in hiding for almost a year after admitting he had an affair with a much younger colleague
On Sunday night, Alison liked Phillip’s latest Instagram post, a photo of his pet
And his beloved daughter Molly is now his publicist after resigning from the talent agency that once represented her father.
PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year’s absence to disappear and pick himself up.
Calling him a rare talent, Mr Borkowski said: ‘He is testing the waters. But the public is very forgiving.”
Phillip told the BBC in an emotional interview last June that the affair had ended his career and revealed the aftermath had left him suicidal.
He told how his two daughters – Molly and Ruby – had saved his life and ‘guarded me and never let me out of their sight’.
He admitted during the sit-down interview with Amol Rajan that he denied grooming the younger colleague, before telling critics: “Do you want me to die? Because that’s where I am.’
Phillip quit this morning under a cloud of controversy after first lying to bosses about the “ill-advised but not illegal” relationship with the male runner, 34 years his junior.
An external investigation led by barrister Jane Mulcahy KC concluded that ITV had made ‘significant efforts’ to uncover the truth when rumors about the relationship circulated in 2019.
But the repeated denials left the broadcaster unable to find out the truth until Schofield admitted it.
The fallout from the scandal led to the breakdown of his friendship with Holly Willoughby.
After Phillip left the show in May, his co-host Holly Willoughby later quit in October over an alleged kidnapping plot.
It led to the breakdown of his friendship with Holly Willoughby. He texted his ex-BFF because he lied to her about his affair
The pair were officially replaced by Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in March when the two joined the show full-time after a series of guest presenters swapped the daytime slot.
The pair were officially replaced by Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in March, when the two joined the show full-time after a series of guest presenters rotated the daytime slot.
In March, friends of the star said he is “pretty sure” he will never work again.
One said: ‘Phillip has been very, very down lately. He doesn’t know how to get back to work. It’s horrible for him to realize this, but he also knows there’s not much he can do about it. He doesn’t know who will take him. He knows there is no going back to ITV or the BBC.’
Sources close to the star say his friends are trying to encourage him to think he can live a “fulfilling life” away from show business.
One said: ‘Just because he may not be on TV anymore doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy his life. Phil isn’t so sure, though.’
However, the star has been tipped for a job in national radio – his ‘first love’ – with Britain’s biggest commercial broadcasters said to be jostling to bring him in to gain new listeners from rivals including BBC Radio 2.