Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were once showbiz’s greatest partnerships – friends on and off screen – but things turned sour a couple of years ago and there’s unlikely any turning back

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield from laughs and friendship to lots of bad blood

Only a few years ago Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were TV’s golden couple, popular with viewers and fronting more than one primetime show together. As well as hosting iconic daytime series This Morning together for over 14 years, the pair dazzled as co-hosts of Saturday evening show Dancing On Ice – back when it commanded millions of viewers.

It was clear to viewers that Phillip and Holly’s natural onscreen chemistry, which often left them in fits of giggles, was due to their genuine friendship – no mean feat in the shark-infested waters of the competitive television industry.

At the annual National TV Awards, the pair would often arrive in the ITV studios worse for wear after painting the town red following their frequent wins. But the personal friendship and professional partnership all came crashing down on May 18, 2023. They haven’t been seen together publicly since their last show then.

Phillip Scofield and Holly Willoughby laughing on This Morning(Image: ITV)

It was May last year when the TV world was rocked as 63-year-old Phillip dramatically “quit” This Morning after admitting to lying about an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair’ with a 20-year-old runner on the programme.

Along with the scandal, rumours began to swirl about an alleged feud between the former best friends. It came after they were hit with criticism in September 2022, following allegations that they’d queue-jumped while seeing the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at Westminster Hall.

Matters between the pair appeared to escalate when Holly, 44, released a statement saying she was left feeling “hurt” after Phil’s “lies” came to light. In a bombshell interview with the BBC, Phil spoke about his last text to Holly before ties were severed.

This Morning’s Holly and Phil in 2022(Image: ITV)

“The last time we had a conversation was when I texted Holly and said, ‘Don’t reply’ – this was after the statement last week – ‘Don’t reply, you’re probably not allowed to, but I am deeply deeply sorry that I lied to you. And I am.” He also told that the affair “was the one secret in our sanctuary that was never mentioned”, adding that he had “lost my best friend”.

Addressing rumours that the mum-of-three knew about the affair, Phillip said: “Holly did not know. And she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say, ‘I am so, so sorry that I lied to you’. She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply, as well. So yeah. If anyone is in any way linking Holly to this; that is ­absolutely, wholly untrue.”

Phil’s brother sex abuse scandal

Phillip Schofield’s brother Timothy (right) was found guilty of sexual offences against a boy(Image: Instagram Phillip Schofield)

On May 19 2023 Phil’s brother Timothy was jailed for 12 years after being convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable teenage boy over a three-year period. Initially Holly was reportedly furious that Phil kept her in the dark about the trial.

A friend told the Mirror: “There is a narrative – uncorrected by Holly’s team – that she was blindsided by news of his brother’s court case and was furious with him for keeping her in the dark about it.

‘But that narrative couldn’t be further from the truth.’