Matthew Wright is ‘gutted’ at Phillip Schofield’s departure (Picture: ITV)

This Morning star Matthew Wright has admitted he’s ‘gutted’ for Phillip Schofield, as he steps down from presenting the daytime television programme alongside Holly Willoughby.

After more than 20 years on the This Morning sofa, the 61-year-old host announced on Saturday: ‘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.’

While Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has appeared to throw shade at Phil, Matthew, 57, has taken to Twitter to share his support.

He wrote: ‘Gutted for @Schofe – there for me when I was having problems a few years back x.’

Phil stepped down after more than 20 years (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Phil’s departure comes after he and Holly, 41, had been the centre of speculation 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’.

Amid the speculation, Matthew had previously dismissed claims of tension.

Following a sting on This Morning earlier this week, he wrote: ‘Not sure I believe half of what you read about Holly and Phil.

‘Terrific atmosphere on set today as per.’

Holly will continue to present This Morning after Phil’s departure (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Speculation began on Wednesday, May 10, when 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.

 ‘To those around them on set, it has become clear recently that Holly and Phil are not as close as they once were.

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 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.

The likes of Ulrika Jonsson and Eamonn Holmes have since weighed into the rumoured ‘fallout’, with the GB News host savagely saying: ‘I think there should’ve been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors.’

Meanwhile, former Loose Women star Carol McGiffin claimed ‘he wasn’t very nice’.

‘He treated me like, “Oh another loose woman with another book.” I kind of get that, but he was so not interested it was a struggle.

‘I was giggling, actually laughing because I couldn’t believe he was being so b****y rude.’

She later added that she’d heard a ‘lot of stories about him being rather unpleasant to a lot of people, especially to a lot of people who were further down the food chain in TV.’

‘They so clearly don’t get on anymore. I know they used to. I don’t know why one of them doesn’t just want to go,’ she remarked.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.

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Phillip Schofield has stepped down after more than 20 years.