Holly Willoughby ‘feeling unnerved that Phillip Schofield could be set to leave This Morning’

Holly Willoughby has reportedly been left feeling ‘unnerved’ amid growing speculation that her co-host Phillip Schofield could be set to leave This Morning.

The presenter, 40, is feeling ‘anxious and upset’ at the thought of Phillip, 59, potentially stepping down to work on other projects, reports Closer

It comes after last week, it was claimed that Dermot O’Leary is being lined up to work alongside Holly as a replacement for Phillip, should the longtime host ever quit his role on the ITV show.   

Tension: Holly Willoughby has reportedly been left feeling ‘unnerved’ amid growing speculation that her co-host Phillip Schofield could be set to leave This Morning

Last month it was also reported that ITV is considering ‘upping’ Holly‘s salary if the presenter’s legal fight with her old agents ‘reaches crisis level’. 

Holly hired lawyers to take action against the YMU Group after they demanded a percentage of her future earnings, it was reported in February.  

A source told the publication: ‘Tensions are sky-high on the show at the moment. For Holly, it seems like it has been one hurdle after another. 

‘First she had to deal with the row with her former agency which led to tense crisis talks with ITV bosses – now she faces losing her wingman Phil. It’s all been very unnerving for her.

Duo: The presenter, 40, is feeling 'anxious and upset' at the thought of Phillip, 59, stepping down to work on other projects, reports Closer

Duo: The presenter, 40, is feeling ‘anxious and upset’ at the thought of Phillip, 59, stepping down to work on other projects, reports Closer 

‘She’s understandably feeling anxious and upset about the thought of Phil potentially jumping ship and them splitting up – she loves Dermot but if Phillip walks away, Holly will have a big call to make.’

The source added that Holly was at a ‘crossroads in her career’ and that any major changes with the show could be a ‘tipping point’ for her. 

MailOnline has contacted Holly, Phillip and ITV for further comment.  

It comes after it was reported last week that Dermot has been lined up as a replacement for Phil if he chooses to go. 

Plans: Dermot O'Leary (pictured) has reportedly been lined up to replace Phillip, should he ever quit his longtime presenting role on This Morning

Show: So far, there has yet to be a public suggestion that Phillip (pictured) is quitting the show

Plans: It comes after last week, it was claimed that Dermot O’Leary (left) is being lined up to work alongside Holly as a replacement for Phillip (right), should the longtime host ever quit his role on the ITV show

TV personality Dermot, 48, currently co-presents the daytime show with Alison Hammond on Fridays, with Phillip and co-host Holly fronting This Morning during the remainder of the week, outside of holidays.

And The Mirror reported that Dermot has proved so popular with viewers that bosses of the show have factored him in as a ‘back up’, should Phillip decide to depart.

The publication claimed: ‘While Phillip has a great relationship with his co-presenter Holly Willoughby, both on and off the screen, it is hoped that Dermot could also have that spark if he had to step in for Phillip.’

There has, so far, been no public suggestion that Phillip is planning to step away from This Morning, which he has hosted since 2002, with Holly joining him in 2009. 

Icon: A source told the publication: 'Tensions are sky-high on the show at the moment. For Holly, it seems like it has been one hurdle after another

Icon: A source told the publication: ‘Tensions are sky-high on the show at the moment. For Holly, it seems like it has been one hurdle after another

MailOnline contacted representatives for Dermot O’Leary and Phillip Schofield for comment at the time. 

Back in 2019, Phillip said that he would be happy to continue presenting This Morning, as long as he and Holly remained in good health. 

Speaking to Heat as he celebrated 10 years onscreen with Holly, Phillip said: ‘I’d be quite happy [to continue], so long as I’m in good health and Holly is too.’

‘It’s an evolving show,’ he added. ‘You never know what direction it’s going to take, you know none of us know what direction life is going to take.’ 

It comes after last month it was reported that ITV is considering ‘upping’ Holly‘s salary if the presenter’s legal fight with her old agents ‘reaches crisis level’.  

New hosting role: Dermot currently co-hosts This Morning with Alison Hammond on Fridays

New hosting role: Dermot currently co-hosts This Morning with Alison Hammond on Fridays 

Holly hired lawyers to take action against the YMU Group after they demanded a percentage of her future earnings, it was reported in February.

Network bosses now fear Holly will walk away from her This Morning role if she is forced to pay YMU the estimated 15% sunset provisions they are asking for. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Holly’s YMU row sparked some serious worries at ITV as they know how adamant she is that she shouldn’t have to pay them.

‘They are hoping the situation can be amicably resolved. But they have agreed a last-resort plan to up her salary if it was to reach crisis level and they can ill-afford to lose her.’ 

The paper added: ‘They have not yet had a conversation with Holly about this and she’d never dream of asking for a raise.’

MailOnline reached out to ITV and Holly’s representatives for comment at the time. 

Sunset provisions are commissions collected by agents from a star who is no longer on their roster, meaning YMU could get a cut from her appearances on Dancing On Ice and This Morning going forward.  

Holly formed her own all-female agency called Roxy last year – and is now managing herself. 

She is said to be willing to pay YMU commissions on jobs arranged while she was with them, but not if those contracts are renewed, The Sun reports.

The mother-of-three has been told she could be forced to pay YMU some £10,000 should their bid be successful.

The presenter has hired a team of lawyers – who she met in February – to ensure that does not happen. 

A source told The Sun: ‘No one wanted this to go legal but Holly won’t simply give away her hard-fought millions without a fight.’ 

They added: ‘This is a sad finale to what was once a hugely successful partnership.’

YMU currently represent celebrities including Willoughby’s This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield.

‘But YMU seem unhappy she’s set up on her own and feel entitled to maximise a sunset provision to claim commission on the renewal of contracts.’

It was reported that Willoughby left YMU back in August.

She was said to have made plans to manage herself within an all-female team once she left the agency – who she was with for 13 years.  

Pay rise: It comes after last month it was reported that ITV is considering 'upping' Holly 's salary if the presenter's legal fight with her old agents 'reaches crisis level' (pictured last year)

Pay rise: It comes after last month it was reported that ITV is considering ‘upping’ Holly ‘s salary if the presenter’s legal fight with her old agents ‘reaches crisis level’ (pictured last year)