Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The world of television has been rife with high-profile dramas recently. This week, made a triumphant return to the small screen with his new three-part reality show , following his departure from his presenting role on This Morning last May.
His departure from the came due to revelations about an affair with a young runner, effectively banishing him from the glitzy world of entertainment.
Schofield’s appearance on saw him enduring harsh conditions in true Robinson Crusoe fashion, sporting a beard and weathered look as he tackled survival challenges on a deserted island near Madagascar for 10 days, seemingly in an attempt to restore his damaged reputation.
However, it wasn’t just about survival; during his solitary time, he couldn’t help but at figures in the TV industry.
It seems reasonable to speculate that one of these targets was his former close colleague . Their once strong partnership on This Morning turned icy following Philip’s notorious love scandal last year.
Holly on Dancing on Ice (Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
They had been inseparable co-hosts for over ten years. Yet, rather than retaliating publicly or sparking a social media storm over Phil’s sharp comments, Holly has chosen to remain commendably silent during his headline-grabbing comeback.
A source reveals Holly has maintained a stance of utmost respect regarding the turmoil surrounding her former co-host, despite being left to be “respectful as possible” – even though she was the one left to “pick up the pieces and deal with the fallout”.
They said: “She was very hurt and betrayed by him as she felt he had lied to her but she has never really slated him – so for him to make thinly-veiled attacks on his new show was a real low”, reports .
“She didn’t deserve that and she thought that after all she has been through in the past 18 months, that he might be a bit more understanding. But it’s clear he sort of blames her for his downfall and that he’s still angry about it all – and Holly knew he wouldn’t be able to keep quiet.”
The source continued: “She had been gearing up for what he was going to say and it’s not nice but she feels she’ll get the last laugh as the show hasn’t exactly been well-received and he is getting criticism for playing the victim and trying to get sympathy.”
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Holly and Phil on This Morning in 2017 (Image: Getty Images)
Once the best of friends, 16 months later their camaraderie seems to have soured. In a stark turnaround, the duo havent been seen publicly in each others company since their last shared TV appearance on May 18 the previous year, amid speculation of a ‘feud’ and Holly’s perceived disinterest in repairing the relationship.
Phil’s headline-making return to the screen saw him sharing some heartfelt confessions. In the buzzworthy three-parter, he divulged: “I miss parts of being on TV, certainly. I miss most of it, if I’m honest. I miss most of it. But there are bits that I really, really, really don’t miss.”
He delivered a subtle jab with: “You learn a lot about people. I don’t miss that. When you throw someone under a bus, you’ve got to have a really bloody good reason to do it.”
Capturing a moment that set tongues wagging, Phil light-heartedly referred to Holly’s televised question following his exit: “If you’re okay, then we’re okay and I’m okay. Are you okay? “, while chuckling during an outdoor feast at home with wife Steph and their girls Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28.
Phil hinted heavily at being ousted from This Morning against his will, stating forcefully: “It’s inconceivable that I would quit [any show that he is on]. I don’t quit. I’m fired. But I never quit.”
While angling, he dropped what some believe was another hint about Holly, saying: “People just went who I thought were my friends and they just went. And that’s like ‘what the hell?'”
The future of Phil’s new show, Cast Away, and its impact on his career is yet to be determined. Meanwhile, Holly’s career is thriving, having grown significantly since her departure from This Morning last October, following the thwarting of a horrifying plot that led to security guard Gavin Plumb being sentenced in July to a minimum of 16 years’ imprisonment for planning to kidnap, assault, and murder the star.
Holly has bounced back strongly from past challenges, and the ITV sweetheart is preparing for a hat-trick of major shows. She’s poised to host a revival of the game show ‘You Bet!’ with her friend Stephen Mulhern, kick off a new series of Dancing On Ice in January, and embark on her adventure reality competition Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls.