Tensions between Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have been a subject of public interest for months now, especially after Schofield's exit from This Morning. The alleged feud between the two came after Schofield stepped down from the show amid mounting scrutiny, particularly following his brother’s court case and reports about a relationship with a younger colleague.
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New details about how their relationship turned sour are still coming out, even over a year after Schofield left the show. His stint on Channel 5's Cast Away has reignited conversation about what really happened between the two, and a friend has now shared some explosive information.
Phillip Schofield’s brutal WhatsApp message to Holly Willoughby
A friend of Schofield told the Mirror that the TV host had pleaded with Holly for a public display of unity, hoping that a statement or a picture together could put an end to the speculation about their alleged rift. However, Holly did not respond to his request. He said:
He feels it was a simple gesture that might have saved his job and her refusal to do so effectively finished him off. Believing in the TV chemistry was the bedrock of the This Morning format.
The lack of public support deeply hurt Schofield, and he reportedly felt that Holly, along with a senior This Morning boss, had orchestrated a ‘very well-constructed coup’ that led to the downfall of his career.
On the day before Schofield’s exit from This Morning became public, he sent a WhatsApp message to Holly expressing his feelings of betrayal. Reportedly, he wrote:
You brought me down.
A source close to Schofield said:
As well as saying she had brought him down, he said he couldn’t believe his TV sister would do this to him.
The publication reports that Willoughby tried to comfort him and tell her side of the story. Her reassurances still left Schofield unsatisfied and he later sent messages to two senior ITV executives to express his frustrations with Holly’s actions. A friend of Schofield said:
He considered her a friend, his TV sister, and always backed her. Her lack of public support was a low blow in his eyes.
According to the Mirror, Schofield is also understood to have branded her a ‘witch’ after she didn’t publicly back him up amid rumours of a fallout following his brother's court case in May 2023.
Holly Willoughby responds to Phillip Schofield
Meanwhile, Willoughby has remained unfazed by Schofield allegedly calling her a ‘witch’ after she chose not to publicly support him during a difficult period in his career.
Despite the intense criticism from her former colleague, Holly has not publicly addressed Schofield’s comments. According to insiders, she remains unbothered by the remarks, with one source stating:
Holly isn't batting an eyelid at this, it's like she couldn't care less. Phil is coming across as incredibly bitter. Holly knows who her friends are and they're the people she pays attention to.
Read more:
Schofield's scandal, death threats: Here's how it all became too much for Holly Willoughby
Phillip Schofield’s return to TV is getting heavily slammed: ‘Nobody is interested in lies’
Phillip Schofield: This is the shocking amount he earned for ITV's This Morning
Sources used:
Mirror: Phillip Schofield's bombshell WhatsApp text to Holly Willoughby - 'You brought me down'
Mirror: Holly Willoughby responds to Phillip Schofield's 'witch' jibe as feud fallout continues
