LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 13: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield with the Best Daytime award for ‘This Morning’ in the winners’ room at the National Television Awards 2022 at OVO Arena Wembley on October 13, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (Image: Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images)
Presenter was in fact aware of her former co-host Phillip Schofield’s paedophile brother before the court case surfaced, and she “supported” Schofield through his tough times, a close friend alleges.
Contrary to widespread reports last year that suggested Holly was left out of the loop regarding Schofield’s brother’s criminal activities until the trial commenced, a source close to Schofield has revealed that Willoughby was actually briefed by Schofield a month following his brother’s arrest in 2021.
Phillip confided in Holly about his courteous interactions with the police and commended her for being “really supportive of what he was going through.”
The inside source expressed that both Schofield and his management harboured deep mistrust towards Holly’s PR team, displeased by their failure to address the proliferating “false narratives running riot.”
Timothy, Schofield’s 54 year old sibling, faced conviction for 11 sexual offences involving a minor spanning from October 2016 to October 2019, with two counts relating to sexual activity with a child.
The same source disclosed: “There is a narrative – uncorrected by Holly’s team – that she was blindsided by news of his brother’s court case and was furious with him for keeping her in the dark about it. But that narrative couldn’t be further from the truth,” reports .
There was also silence from Holly’s representatives amid press claims that she was reluctant to share the screen with him.
In a recent report by The Mirror, Schofield reportedly accused Willoughby of not providing support as his career teetered on collapse, lamenting to her: “You brought me down.”
The TV personality purportedly lashed out at Willoughby via Whatsapp just one day prior to the announcement of his departure from This Morning becoming public knowledge.
A mate revealed: “As well as saying she had brought him down, he said he couldn’t believe his TV sister would do this to him.”
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Holly supported Phil before his brother’s court case surfaced (Image: Getty Images)
Amid turmoil following his brother’s court case in May 2023, lamented her lack of public support, hoping that a united front via a statement or a photo would quell rumours of dissension. However, his request was met with silence.
This neglect allegedly sealed his fate on the programme as audiences ceased to buy into their televised rapport. “He feels it was a simple gesture that might have saved his job and her refusal to do so effectively finished him off. Believing in the TV chemistry was the bedrock of the This Morning format,” disclosed an insider.
She purportedly rebuffed Schofield’s attempts at solidarity, believing it unwise to “feed the narrative”, while ITV chiefs are said to have concurred.
Following Schofield’s outreach on Whatsapp, Holly reportedly responded in confusion over the unfolding situation, according to the friend.
Yet, unresolved grievances prompted Schofield to reach out to two high-ranking ITV executives to voice his displeasure, maintains the associate.
Stricken by the unfolding events, the presenter expressed feelings of betrayal, accusing Holly and a key figure from This Morning of executing a “very well constructed coup” which ravaged his television tenure.
A source revealed: “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.”
Schofield himself announced in May 2023 his decision to “agreed to step down ” from the show after over two decades, citing the need to “protect the show that I love.”
A confidant disclosed: “In reality he was forced out…and was absolutely devastated by what happened.”
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Holly left This Morning last October (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
As Schofield dealt with this tumultuous period, he was simultaneously responding to growing speculation about his involvement with a staff member, all the while denying any improprieties.
Soon after his exit from the programme, Schofield owned up to misleading statements regarding an affair, a revelation which precipitated his departure from ITV and impacted his entire career trajectory.
He acknowledged at the time: “I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning….that relationship was unwise but not illegal. It is now over.”
The friend commented: “He blew things up himself but at the end of the day he promised the other person involved that he wouldn’t say anything in order to keep his name out of the papers, which is what they wanted.”
“The suggestion by ITV that the lying ultimately got him sacked is disingenuous. He was very much forced out at This Morning. This was not a voluntary stepping down, and he made his feelings clear.”
Schofield was abruptly dropped by his agency of 35 years, YMU, on the same day he confessed to having an affair outside his marriage. At that time, YMU emphasised how “honesty and integrity” were at the heart of their values, stating that “talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.”
A friend described the agency’s decision to cut ties with him and his “support network of 35 years” as harsh.
“YMU demanded a full admission of guilt from him, including a line that he would never work in TV again, which Phil later removed. He didn’t pen the statement himself, and after it was issued, no one was permitted to speak to him. He felt completely adrift.”
He also declined to participate in an independent inquiry into the scandal, led by Jane Mulcahy KC, citing “the risk to his health”.
Just last week, he featured on the Channel 5 programme Castaway to “set the record straight on a few things,” according to the friend.
On the show, he recounted how the environment “became hostile to me” and seemed to aim a pointed jab at his former colleagues from This Morning.
“And those who did this to me, they’re aware, they know how significant that place was to me. They understand that when you throw someone under the bus, there needs to be a damn good reason for it. Personal brand and ambition don’t cut it. Those aren’t valid reasons to throw someone under the bus.”
Tensions between him and Holly began to surface in 2022 following allegations that the duo had skipped the queue to pay tribute to the late Queen at Westminster Hall, an incident that became infamously known as “queuegate”.
The friend revealed that Schofield had reservations about broadcasting the segment, fearing it would attract negative attention.
“He made it quite clear in no uncertain terms that it was a bad idea and would be interpreted the wrong way,” they remarked. The friend supported Schofield’s decision to express his concerns on national television, asserting that he had every right to do so.
“So much Phillip needed to get off his chest on Cast Away appears to be justified and was not the ‘poor me’ it was accused of,” the confidant claims.
“He couldn’t have been more remorseful of his mistake and addressed that numerous times, but did he deserve that trip under the bus? “.
“He has been pleased by the reaction and just wants people to make their own minds up by watching all three episodes.”