Phillip Schofield quits UK’s This Morning
Tension between morning TV hosts in Britain ends as host quits “with immediate effect”.
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High profile British host Phillip Schofield has quit daytime show This Morning “with immediate effect”.
The Guardian reports it comes after reports his relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby has become strained in recent weeks.
Schofield has presented the programme for 20 years, with last Thursday’s episode now becoming his last. Schofield and Willoughby are two of the most recognisable faces on British television but the show has shed 170,000 viewers in just a week.
Schofield said: “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. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me – especially This Morning’s amazing viewers – and I’ll see you all for the Soap Awards next month.”
Holly Willoughby said: “It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”
This week Timothy Schofield, Phillip Schofield’s brother, was jailed for 12 years for child abuse, while last year the two hosts were accused of jumping the queue to see the Queen lying in state. ITV issued a statement denying the claims, but it didn’t stop a backlash and jokes at their expense. They later triumphed with a popularity win at the UK National Television Awards.
Apologies to anyone waiting on their pizza, we've just received an order from Holly and Phil #ThisMorning
— Domino's Pizza UK (@Dominos_UK) September 20, 2022
This week Kevin Lygo, ITV’s managing director, media and entertainment, said: “Phillip is hands down one of the best broadcasters of his generation and we thank him for his two decades worth of absolutely terrific television on the This Morning sofa.
“This Morning is made by one of the best and most diligent teams in television, who produce over 12 hours of live television each week.”
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Phillip starting with The British Soap Awards in June and a brand new peak time series to come.”
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11 Responses
Worth noting that fall in ratings was from a wet Bank Holiday to a working Monday and other daytime shows had similarly fallen (source: BBC)
Sadly hounded out of the job by those who usually complain loudest when someone is a victim of cancel culture. ITV were left with no choice regardless of whether there is anything of substance he should be held accountable for.
A lot of rumours swirling in the UK that when a media injunction is finally lifted in July, that there will be a lot more of this story to come and he jumped before he was pushed.
Why is this ‘news’ here on the other side of the World?-a breakfast TV show!
Huge online presence in Australia.
All over TikTok. Also they where quite the hosting duo with lots of chemistry that made memorable live TV over the years, you would often find Phil and Holly’s clips popping up on TikTok and You Tube in Australia.
You don’t always get that type of chemistry that lasts that long that creates truly memorable live tv moments.
Many of their moments have gone viral over the years. This is a seismic shift in the TV landscape, even outside the UK.
There will be so much more to come out with this story!! I am surprised they still have him slated in to host the Soap awards.
The media frenzy around this has been massive, it’s the UK tall poppy knock down syndrome, the real question will be how much his brothers conviction played a part in this. Surely ‘Queue-gate’ wasn’t an issue as many ‘jumped’ the queue, they were on air and reporting when that happened as were many other media types. As he stated he had become the story and not the show.
It’s a bit awkward with the timing of the publicity of his brother. Is he being punished for something his brother did? A guilty by association. Is that fair if that’s the case?
Hasn’t this been quite the feeding frenzy in the UK press the last few weeks. It even rated a mention in House of Commons.
Granted, there has been so much media attention surrounding this, this week. But with immediate effect, and the announcement at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon (UK time), you can’t help but think (given all stories surrounding him, not just his reported feud with Holly, his brother and queue gate), that there is another story behind the scenes brewing and/or ready to break and he has mutually agreed because he knew he may be fired in coming days regardless.