Holly Willoughby will not be returning to This Morning on Monday (Picture: ITV)
Holly Willoughby will not be returning to Monday’s This Morning, after Phillip Schofield announced his departure from the programme.
Phil, 61, announced he was stepping back, saying: ‘I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.
‘Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind.
‘I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love.
‘So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future.’
Meanwhile, Holly, 41, will present the show alone in the future, alongside other members of the This Morning team, like Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary who present the Friday edition of the programme.
Phillip Schofield stepped down after more than 20 years (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
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However, it has now been revealed that Holly will not be returning to This Morning on Monday.
ITV confirmed to Metro.co.uk that Holly will return to This Morning on Monday, June 5, having taken an early half-term holiday starting Monday, May 22.
The broadcaster will announce who will be hosting the programme in due course, Metro.co.uk understands.
After Phil announced his departure, Holly added: ‘It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.
‘The sofa won’t feel the same without him.’
Phil’s departure comes after it was reported they were ‘barely speaking’ behind-the-scenes and that their relationship had ‘cooled’.
While they have continued putting on a united front on the This Morning sofa, and Phil recently insisted they are ‘still the best of friends’, rumours have continued swirling, with reports escalating to claims that Phil is ‘refusing to quit This Morning’, as one source called the situation a ‘runaway train that cannot be stopped’.
Meanwhile, a recent insider alleged that Holly contemplated quitting the programme, saying that ‘by removing herself from the situation she could protect herself better’.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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MORE : Phillip Schofield to present prime time ITV show after This Morning departure
Phil stepped down after more than 20 years on the This Morning sofa.
