Phillip Schofield has been accused of ‘blaming women’ for his downfall.
The presenter, 62, publicly fell out with Holly Willoughby last year after admitting to having an ‘ill-advised’ affair with a junior colleague.
He has since expressed his frustration in his comeback show Cast Away, which aired on Channel 5 last week, in which he recorded focuses on those ‘who betrayed him 16 months ago when he quit ITV’s This Morning.
A showbusiness insider told MailOnline: ‘You can see what Phil is doing, he’s angry and he’s taking his moment in the spotlight and slinging more mud while people are interested in him.
‘Phil’s career ended because he lied. He resigned from ITV when he lied about an affair with a much younger colleague. To say this is Holly’s fault is just ridiculous. Talk about the woman’s fault.’
‘Self-confessed liar’ Phillip Schofield has been accused of ‘blaming women’ after reigniting his feud with former best friend Holly Willoughby (pictured May 2023)
Meanwhile, Holly’s friends insist she was completely vindicated for her row with Phillip after it emerged he had lied about his relationship with a younger colleague.
Holly said last year that he had been dishonest with her about the affair, just as he had been with ITV, his agent YMU and his family. He also lied about it to the Mail and admitted the truth in a statement last May.
“Phil is a self-confessed and proven liar so the things he says should be taken with a pinch of salt,” a source said: “He lied to his colleagues, his employers and the media, let’s not forget that.”
Now the star has been branded vengeful after text messages revealed he told Holly she had ‘brought him down’ shortly before he resigned from This Morning last year.
Friends of the disgraced presenter say he sent her the accusation in a WhatsApp message and that she should have publicly supported him after their row.
He then blamed her for not doing so, saying it then prompted him to resign after 21 years on the ITV show.
Phillip had asked her for a public show of support, such as a statement or a photo together, in the hope that this would quell claims that they were feuding.
The report, which was revealed to the Daily Mirror on Monday, has now reignited the feud between the pair, which started last spring.
Phillip has expressed his frustration in his comeback show Cast Away, which aired on Channel 5 last week, in which he took aim at those ‘who betrayed him’ 16 months ago when he quit ITV
Another factor in their feud is said to be that Holly was unaware of the full details of his pedophile brother Timothy’s crimes.
Although she and ITV were aware of an impending lawsuit last March, it is believed Phillip did not tell her the full extent of it.
After rumors they had fallen out last May, Phillip left Holly devastated when he made a public statement to discuss their friendship.
He said: “The last few weeks have not been easy for either of us. As I’ve said before, Holly is my rock.
‘We are the best of friends – as always she is 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.’
Friends of Holly said at the time that she was ‘blindsided’ by his outburst.
Phillip pulled out of This Morning days later on May 20.
He said in a statement: ‘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 have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect in the hope that the show can have a bright future.’
While he stepped down from This Morning, he would host the Soap Awards for ITV a week later and the network’s bosses had given him a new prime time show.
He later quit after admitting an affair with his colleague.
After rumors they had fallen out last May, Phillip left Holly devastated as he made a public statement to discuss their friendship (pictured May 2023)