Phillip Schofield hits back at rumours of a feud with This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby saying ‘she’s the sister I never had’
Philip Schofield has hit back at rumours of a rift with his This Morning co-stars including Holly Willoughby by insisting: ‘She is the sister I never had.’
Asked about speculation of tensions with Miss Willoughby and others, the 57-year-old said: ‘Can you imagine a feud between us ever happening? It’s not as if we have to defend anything.
‘It’s a shame… we are so open on the show, we are so open online and we go on holiday together.
Philip Schofield has hit back at rumours of a rift with his This Morning co-stars including Holly Willoughby by insisting: ‘She is the sister I never had’
‘Holly is the sister I never had, we think at the same speed. It’s so organic… it’s a shame.
‘Everyone who knows us, I mean, everyone at This Morning was like, ‘What the hell?’ The atmosphere in our studio is so wonderful, there’s such a lovely team. Everyone is lovely.’
His comments follow reports of clashes with colleagues over his allegedly brusque manner.
Asked about speculation of tensions with Miss Willoughby and others, the 57-year-old said: ‘Can you imagine a feud between us ever happening? It’s not as if we have to defend anything’
Ruth Langsford, who presents This Morning with her husband Eamonn Holmes every Friday, is understood to have made a complaint about Mr Schofield, thought to have been prompted when he cut her off during a crossover link to Loose Women.
On Thursday, Mr Schofield appeared to refer to the tension with Miss Langsford during his last appearance on This Morning before Christmas.
Following an ad break, Miss Willoughby expressed sadness that it would be their last programme before joking: ‘I can stay!’ Referring to Miss Langsford and her husband, who will cover their leave, Mr Schofield replied: ‘Eamonn and Ruth would be very angry. They planned their whole Christmas around this!’
Ruth Langsford (left), who presents This Morning with her husband Eamonn Holmes (right) every Friday, is understood to have made a complaint about Mr Schofield, thought to have been prompted when he cut her off during a crossover link to Loose Women
Some viewers interpreted his comment as a sly dig.
However, speaking at the launch of ITV’s Dancing On Ice, which begins next month, Miss Willoughby, 38, who has co-presented This Morning with Mr Schofield for more than a decade, played down reports that their friendship has cooled. ‘There is nothing to defend, we talk to each other all the time and we won’t let this ruin our Christmas,’ she said.
His comments follow reports of clashes with colleagues over his allegedly brusque manner
‘It would be impossible for us to fake our relationship, the laughs. We’re two-and-a-half hours on the telly, I’m not that good an actress!’
Mr Schofield is said to be envious of Miss Willoughby’s success, including her spell alongside Declan Donnelly on last year’s series of I’m A Celebrity… when Ant McPartlin took a sabbatical following a spell in rehab.
And Mr Schofield also appears to have upset Amanda Holden who, when asked on her Heart Breakfast radio show which three things she would not like to find in her home, replied: ‘Spiders, flies and Phillip Schofield.’
ITV has flatly rejected reports of a rift between Mr Schofield and other presenters, adding: ‘It’s deeply disappointing and unfair for Phillip to be the target of this sort of malicious gossip.’