HOLLY Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are barely speaking off camera on This Morning, it is claimed.
The Sun revealed that ITV insiders say their 14-year relationship has “cooled” as issues have “rumbled for some time” on the ITV show.
A source told the paper that of Holly, 42, and Phil, 61 “Should he leave, she’d want to stay.”
The pair have presented the hit ITV daytime show for 14 years but in recent months their partnership has come under strain.
Sources say issues have been quietly rumbling for some time Holly has distanced herself from Phillip off camera.
His absence following his paedophile brother’s recent court case has added to the strain.
A source said: “Holly adores This Morning and for the first time in 14 years she has made it clear that should Phil ever leave she would want to stay. They are separate entities.
“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.
“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 insider said: “Holly and Phil have gone through rough patches before like any professional pairing who have worked together for over a decade.
“Before they have always seemed to move on, but this time it seems different.”
PHIL SET TO BE AXED
PHILLIP Schofield is set to be axed from This Morning after multiple scandals involving alleged grooming, queue jumping and the fallout from his brothers sexual abuse trial that led to Holly Willoughby refusing to appear on the show for a whole week.
He could be replaced by Alison Hammond after ITV did a “test run” whilst Phillip was forced off air over his brothers abuse trial in which he was found guilty.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: “As part of their strategy to listen to their audiences, ITV chiefs monitor social media to see how fans are reacting to their stars.”
Another ITV source added: “It has put an idea into the heads of ITV chiefs – to bring a bit of ‘girl power’ to the show.”
“It’s a case of both things colliding. Fans say they are over Phil and they love Alison.”
This comes as a Daily Express and another Politicalite poll reveal 89% think Phillip should be sacked from the programme at the time of publication.
