Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have been removed from a This Morning promo over rumors of their feud.
The pair are said to be “not as close as they once were” and now barely speak off camera as their friendship cools amid a recent string of controversies, including Queuegate and his brother, Timothy, convicted of child offences.
And with fans now picking up on the duo’s apparent rift, they’ve now disappeared from a promo video for the ITV’s show’s 12 at 12 competition in subtle format change.
On Friday’s show, hosted by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, the pair talked about what’s going on on next week’s show, including the 12 by 12 contest usually hosted by Holly and Phil with the help from Josie Gibson.
Viewers were encouraged to submit their entries for the competition, in which they could win up to £12,000.
Dropped: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have been dropped from a This Morning promo amid reports of their rumored feud
Awkward: With fans now picking up on the duo’s apparent split, they’ve now disappeared from a promo video for the ITV’s show’s 12 at 12 competition in subtle format change (Friday hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond pictured)
However, when the promo video was played next, Holly and Phil, who usually appear in it, were conspicuously absent.
Though Alison later referenced her co-stars when she said Holly and Phil would be back on Monday with a “Scam clinic” on Monday’s show.
It’s because viewers have noticed tension between the couple as fand also claimed Holly removed Phillip from her Twitter amid their supposed fallout.
The duo, aged 42 and 61 respectively, put on brave faces when they appeared on screen on Thursday after whispers that they were ‘not as close as they once were’ and now barely speak off camera – something viewers seemed to notice during the show.
As social media erupted with comments about the couple’s on-screen interactions, some noticed the changes in Holly’s social media account.
Twitter users claimed that Holly’s Twitter bio featured Phillip before, with the tagline: I was introduced to this by a Twitter legend “with Phillip’s name linked in her bio,” but the bio now lists her career accolades.
Holly’s Twitter bio currently reads: “Announcer, founder of Wyldemoon, brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer and Garnier, author of Reflections.” It’s not clear when the change was made, despite fan speculation.
It comes after it was revealed that Holly was left blind on Thursday night after her This Morning co-star Phillip released an extraordinary statement about their rumored feud.
Tensions: The pair are said to be ‘not as close as they once were’ and now barely speak off camera as their friendship cools amid a recent string of controversies
Show: On Friday’s show, hosted by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, the pair talked about what’s going on on next week’s show, including the 12 by 12 match usually hosted by Holly and Phil
Missing: When the promo video then played, Holly and Phil, who usually appear in it, were notably absent
Phillip broke his silence over claims that a feud with his co-host of 14 years is rumbling behind the scenes of This Morning and threatening the future of the gold ITV couple.
As Phillip admitted that “the past few weeks haven’t been easy for us,” sources close to Holly told MailOnline she had no idea Phillip would be making a statement. She added that the first she saw of it was when it was published online.
Bosses are said to be in a major crisis, with reports that Holly wants to pull the plug on their ITV partnership for good.
But Phillip – who has had a series of feuds with other former co-stars – has now spoken out about reports that their relationship has become strained after a series of controversies, including Queuegate and his brother, Timothy, convicted of child offences.
“The past few weeks have not been easy for either of us. As I’ve said before, Holly is my rock,” Phil told The Sun.
Shock: As social media erupted with comments about the couple’s on-screen interactions, some noticed the changes to Holly’s social media account
“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 duo 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 live as gay on This in 2020 Morning.
Phil has had a tumultuous few months, taking a break from work when his brother was convicted of child crimes.
Timothy Schofield, 54, was found guilty of 11 charges against his underage victim – with whom he watched porn while engaging in a sexual act.
Phil took to social media after his brother was found guilty and said, “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a brother anymore.”
In his statement, released on Thursday after appearing back on This Morning, Phil said his family has been through “a real ordeal.”
On top of that: 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
He shut down rumors of a feud, saying: ‘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 has been sick with shingles herself.’
There has been talk of why their 14-year reign as ‘besties’ is over, but the Mail’s Katie Hind has been told that at the heart of the feud is a dispute over whether Schofield confided in Holly that his brother Timothy , a police IT employee, accused of child crimes.
Friends say Willoughby was left in the dark until Schofield took a week’s leave from the ITV daytime show to avoid the limelight while the trial took place last month – something he is willing to deny to his right.
Sources close to Willoughby claim she is “deeply upset” that she learned what was going on through a third party. Not so long ago, the two were undeniably close.
Elsewhere, the duo’s future as Dancing On Ice hosts is said to be up in the air amid rumors of their off-screen feud.
And while their deteriorating friendship has already sparked concerns about whether their collaboration on This Morning will continue, there are also questions about their future on Dancing On Ice.
In danger? Holly and Phillip’s future as Dancing On Ice hosts is up in the air amid rumors of their off-screen feud
Uh oh: While their deteriorating friendship has already raised concerns about whether their partnership on This Morning will continue, there are also questions about their future on Dancing On Ice
A source told The sun: ‘Holly and Phil are the shining stars of Dancing on Ice, but if they don’t get along, there’s a fear it won’t work.
‘Dancing on Ice is a huge ITV show, attracting around four million viewers per episode. Both Holly and Phil are complete professionals and neither would ever let on that there was a problem on screen.
“But now that the rumors of problems in their working relationship are out in the open, it can’t be swept under the rug.”
The source added that the situation is ‘far from an ideal situation’ and that everyone at ITV wants the situation to be ‘resolved quickly’ and the presenters to be ‘happy’.
MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Holly, Phil and Dancing On Ice for comment.