A TORY MP has accused Phillip Schofield of “intimidating behaviour” whilst working on ITV’s This Morning – amid a scandal over his alleged involvement with a former colleague and his brothers sex abuse trial.
Nadine Dorries – the former Culture, Media and Sport minister who is stepping down at the next election claimed the TV presenter “scared” her as she recalled an interview she once had with him.
The Mirror reported that Dorries, who has been the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire since 2005, “didn’t pull any punches” as she laid into “finger-jabbing” Phillip for his off-screen actions.
The MP and mum-of-three – who appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2012 – also joined thousands of viewers who think that This Morning was “better” without the 61-year-old presenter when he was off air during his brother Timothy’s child sex abuse trial.
She wrote in the Daily Mail: “I’ve been interviewed by Holly and Phillip several times, and off-camera found Holly an absolute delight and Mr Schofield rather up himself.”
“On one occasion, I witnessed what appeared to be somewhat intimidating behaviour.”
“Holly was away, and as her stand-in looked down at her script — obviously wanting to see who or what was coming up next — Phillip glared at her and began to jab at her script with his finger. I don’t know about her, but he scared me.”
Nadine also praised telly favourite Holly for her chemistry with Alison Hammond – who replaced Phillip in a “trial run” when Schofield was off air last month.
Holly was due to appear back on air with Phillip on Monday, but late Sunday night it was reported that the presenter had “taken ill” with shingles – hours after promotional material had been released on social media and in major UK media outlets highlighting her and co-host Phillip’s “big return” to This Morning.
It comes as a Politicalite poll revealed that a whopping 96.5% would prefer Holly to stay in the show over Phillip.
Earlier this month we revealed that bosses at ITV held crisis talks over the embattled broadcaster Phillip Schofield following his brothers child abuse trial that forced the This Morning host off air for weeks.
Timothy Schofield – Phil’s brother was found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a period of three years.
He was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court.
In March – Politicalite revealed that Alison Hammond was replacing Phillip on the daytime show in a “trial run” after impressing ITV bosses – and we revealed the further details on why Telly bigwigs were forced remove Schofe from screens.
Phillip said after the case: “If any crime had ever been confessed to me, I would have acted immediately. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.”
Yet, in court it was heard how Phillip simply told his brother that it “should never happen again”.
His brother described him as very angry and distressed. The defendant also told his brother that he was impotent.
“The defendant then said his brother would hate him for what he was about to say, his brother said that he wouldn’t and then the defendant said he had their time together and they had watched porn and w***** together.
The court heard: “Phillip Schofield then said ‘what did you just say?’ and the defendant repeated it was last year and just once.”
The case followed another Schofe scandal – in which he was accused of “grooming” a former show runner Mathew McGreevey.
ITV said in a statement Sunday night: “Holly won’t be presenting This Morning this week as she is unwell with shingles.”
Willoughby has presented This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield since 2009.
This Morning has confirmed that Willoughby will be off for ‘a few days’ and Rochelle Humes will be stepping in to present with Schofield.
