Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have been branded the pair "actors" by a former colleague. Their former This Morning co-star Eamonn Holmes has spoken out as the duo appeared on ITV ’s This Morning together amid reports of a rift between the pair.
The duo put on a united front as they appeared side by side on Monday and made no reference to stories in the press about their relationship. They have been under intense pressure after they were accused of skipping the queue to pay respects to the late Queen Elizabeth while she was lying in state.
Last week, Schofield hailed Willoughby as his “rock” in a statement to The Sun following reports the pair’s relationship has come under strain. He said: “As I have said before, Holly is my rock. We’re the best of friends – as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone.
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“Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her. The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.” Schofield took pre-planned leave from the show around his brother’s sex abuse trial at Exeter Crown Court last month.
Willoughby also recently took time off from the ITV morning programme due to shingles. The TV duo have presented the show together since 2009 and also co-host ITV’s Dancing On Ice. Eamonn Holmes has now addressed the situation, explaining that Holly and Phillip should have been recognised at Sunday night's BAFTA TV Awards , the Mirror reports.
Speaking on GB News, Eamonn said: "I think there should have been a special award for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for best actors. They may or may not be together on the telly today. The public surely will suss that there's no chemistry, that it's a broken fit between the two of them and that This Morning does not depend on who presents it. "It's an institution, it will carry on no matter who presents it and anyone can check the viewing figures, there's no difference between whether they present it or anyone else."
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