Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield reunite on This Morning for the first time in over a MONTH

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield reunited on This Morning for the first time in over a month.

On Monday, after a bout of shingles, Holly, 42, finally returned to the famous bench alongside Phillip, 61.

She was due to welcome him back to the ITV daytime show last week after he took time off amid his brother Tim’s sexual assault trial.

However, her sick leave meant she missed her co-star’s first week back on the air after his three-week hiatus due to his brother’s convictions.

Holly took to Instagram minutes before her return from This Morning and told her fans, “Aww I missed you!!!!!” while showing off her classy look for the show.

The blonde presenter looked sensational in a beautiful green midi dress from Ro en Zo, paired with a pair of tan suede stilettos.

Holly wrote next to it: ‘Tomorrow Monday… aww I missed you!!!!! See you on the @thismorning couch at 10am…we’ve got The Rules co-writer on the show today! #hwstyle dress from @ro_and_zo.

The co-hosts finally got back together on screen on Monday morning, after it was revealed that Phillip Schofield’s career is in doubt.

The Mail on Sunday revealed that a battle is raging behind the scenes over the future of the show – specifically whether there should be a reshuffle of the presenting staff.

Some think it’s time for Phillip to take a step back after more than two decades of presenting the programme, having noticed that some of the million-plus viewers seem to have grown tired of him.

And 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 with Phillip, but there are also petitions on the internet asking for the channel to get rid of him.

Their views have been compounded by the success of Alison Hammond, 42, described by some as the ‘savior of This Morning’ after being promoted from show business interviewer to lead presenter 15 months ago.

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 Phillip 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 Phillip in recent years.

But Alison 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.

Holly is also said to ‘worship’ Alison, as ITV bosses fall over themselves to show her love – despite some once dismissing her as the bubbly showbiz girl.

If Phillip left, “Holly and Phil,” one of television’s most famous collaborations, would come to an end—or “Phil and Holly,” whichever he would prefer.

Some ITV staff were skeptical – perhaps wrongly – last week about Holly’s illness, which they say was “perfect timing” for her to avoid sitting next to Phillip as he thanked fans for their support during his painful ordeal at his convictions. brother.

However, sources close to Holly insist she had struggled to shake off the illness until last Friday.

Meanwhile, she has forged a close friendship with Alison. Not only was she at her birthday party last month (Phillip was notably absent), she also introduced Alison to her “girl gang,” which includes former Spice Girl Emma Bunton.

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.

Some of the show’s staff have also questioned why Alison didn’t replace Holly while she was sick.

Last month, when Phillip parted ways while his brother Timothy was on trial, Alison joined Holly for two days in what ITV bosses saw as a ‘massive triumph’.

Instead, Phillip was flanked last week by Rochelle Humes, 34, the singer turned presenter who he says covered for Holly.

It is believed that he prefers Rochelle, perhaps seeing her as more malleable, unlike his other outspoken female television partners, including Fern Britton and Amanda Holden.

And maybe Allison. Because maybe the truth is that there’s no room on the This Morning couch for either Alison or Phil – or even Phil and Alison.