Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are reportedly ‘barely speaking’ (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
Phillip Schofield is reportedly rejecting calls from ITV to quit This Morning as his ‘feud’ with Holly Willoughby rumbles on.
Rumours of a rift between the Dancing On Ice co-stars were first reported last week with claims they were ‘barely speaking’ behind the scenes of the long-running daytime show.
While Phil, 61, has insisted the pair are ‘best friends’, the Wylde Moon founder, 41, has yet to publicly address the situation, although the duo have continued to put on a united front while presenting This Morning.
Since the reports have emerged, fans have been speculating on the future of the programme, with it claimed that Holly had contemplated quitting the show because she is struggling to cope with the situation.
But it has been rumoured that ITV are eyeing up Phil for the chopping block, rather than Holly, with a source revealing it is ‘highly unlikely’ he will return to This Morning in September.
Now a further insider has claimed the Triggerpoint broadcaster is keen for Phil to step down but he is causing bosses a headache because he is refusing to quit.
Phillip is reportedly refusing to quit This Morning (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Phillip has insisted the pair are ‘best friends’ (Picture: Getty)
They told the Daily Mail: ‘Phil doesn’t see why he should go. It’s his job, he has steered the show for more than 20 years.’
A further source added that the situation between the pair had become a ‘runaway train that cannot be stopped’.
It comes after it was reported that Phil has become ‘increasingly withdrawn’ following the speculation.
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A source told the Mirror: ‘[He is] almost a shell of himself. He seems down and spends a lot of time in his dressing room. We’re worried about him.’
On Wednesday, This Morning fans believed they spotted further tension between the pair during an awkward hug before Holly left to go to Buckingham Palace for The Prince’s Trust Awards.
Holly and Phil have been hosting This Morning together for 14 years.
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They first fronted the popular show together in 2009 and have gone on to become one of British TV’s most loved duos.
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for ITV and Phil for comment.
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ITV bosses reportedly want Phil to leave.
