The ITV duo are said to be barely speaking to each other behind-the-scenes (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
This Morning co-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are ‘barely speaking’ behind-the-scenes, according to reports.
The duo began presenting the ITV daytime programme together in 2009, with Holly taking over for Fern Britton, and joining Phil, who had fronted the show from 2002.
Holly, 42, and Phil, 61, also present Dancing On Ice together, however, they’re said to be barely speaking to each other in new reports.
A source revealed: ‘To those around them on set, it has become clear recently that Holly and Phil are not as close as they once were.
‘Professionally you would have no idea there was anything going on because on camera they are acting exactly the same.’
They continued to The Sun: ‘But behind the scenes their relationship has cooled.
‘Before there would be a lot of banter and camaraderie off camera but that has dwindled.’
The Dancing On Ice presenters have fronted This Morning together for 14 years (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock)
The insider added that if Phil were to leave This Morning, Holly would ‘want to stay’ as the pair are ‘separate entities’.
The comments come after it was claimed Holly and the This Morning team would ‘always be there’ for Phil, following his brother being found guilty in a sexual abuse trial.
Timothy Schofield was found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a period of three years, having been charged with 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019 – including two of sexual activity with a child.
Following the guilty verdict, Phil issued a statement and said he ‘no longer’ has a brother.
The insider added that if Phil were to leave This Morning, Holly would ‘want to stay’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
At the time, a source told Mail Online: ‘Holly is loyal to Phil and she will always be there for him.’
‘And she will always be there for This Morning too. She sees it as her role to keep things going.’
The pair’s reported behind-the-scenes feud comes after their scandal last year in which they were accused of ‘skipping’ the queue to see the Queen’s coffin lying in state.
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They later addressed the backlash in a statement and stressed they had ‘respected’ the rules set for the media.
Despite criticism from celebrities and fans alike, they went on to win a National Television Award, after addressing the outrage on This Morning.
Holly said over a clip featuring footage of their visit: ‘The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast, those paying their respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.
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‘None of the journalists and broadcasters there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.’
She continued: ‘We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know that we would never jump a queue.’
Metro.co.uk has approached Holly and Phil’s reps for comment.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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The duo are said to be not as close as the once were.
