Phillip Schofield’s ‘futile efforts to shoot Holly Willoughby down’ as resistance revealed

Phillip Schofield’s reported “mission” to “shoot Holly down” has proven “futile” due to one specific reason, a source has claimed.

Holly Willoughby and her former partner’s highly publicised fall-out came after his shock departure from the show in May 2023, with Phillip later admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.

The ex- presenter remained off our TV screens for 16 months before he returned for Channel 5’s Cast Away last month, but the show would .

Holly was upset by Phillip’s exit from This Morning, telling viewers at the time that she felt “shaken, troubled, let down,” and “worried”. However, a source claimed to The Sun last month that Phillip now “dislikes Holly so much now he calls her ‘the witch'”.

Phillip also appeared to aim a jibe at Holly’s infamous “are you OK?” speech to ITV viewers during his TV return on Channel 5’s Cast Away, when he said: “If you’re OK, then we’re OK, and I’m OK… are you OK?”

Meanwhile, a source has since suggested to Bella magazine that Phillip had been making “efforts” to shoot his former co-host down, but it would appear that has other plans.

The source claimed: “Despite Phillip’s best efforts to shoot Holly down, his mission has been futile as Holly’s resistance has seen her through. Her dignified professional silence has netted herself personal success.”

A confidant of previously told the Mirror that he understood his 21-year stint on This Morning was coming to an end when Holly withheld her support.

The insider said Phillip felt like it was a “simple gesture” that may have saved his job, but by not helping, it “effectively finished him off.” They also highlighted the importance of “believing in the TV chemistry”.

It’s thought that Holly told Phillip she didn’t want to “feed the narrative”, and that ITV bosses didn’t want her to make a public statement.

 

However, Phillip reportedly felt like Holly and a This Morning boss had conducted a “very well constructed coup” while his long-standing TV career fell apart.

 

A source previously claimed: “Phillip considered her a friend, his TV sister as he called her, and always backed her, even recommending her to do the jungle. Her lack of public support was a low blow in his eyes.”

 

Holly, who has also left This Morning, didn’t publicly address Phillip’s TV return and has instead been focusing on her official brand, Wylde Moon.

 

It has also been announced that she will be hosting a revamped version of the game show You Bet! alongside Stephen Mulhern, with a source close to Holly previously telling Closer magazine that she’s thrilled to work with her “close friend” again.