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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Emmeline Saunders & Nia Dalton

Holly Willoughby fell for Phillip Schofield's mean prank on first ever This Morning show

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have been the best of pals on and off-screen for over 17 years - but their close friendship is now reportedly on the rocks.

The likable duo first began co-presenting Dancing on Ice together in 2006, before ITV bosses snapped them up to present This Morning for over a decade.

Though in recent years, Holly is said to have distanced herself from Phil when the cameras aren't rolling, and he has admitted things have "not be easy" for them.

Prior to the alleged feud, Holly and Phil were fan favourites with ITV viewers and their incredible chemistry was no secret, having shared giggles, inside jokes and secret codes on the show.

Phil decided to pull a mean trick on Holly just before the first show aired (ITV)

But their very first episode together didn't actually kick off smoothly, as Phil decided to play a trick on his brand new TV partner before going live on air.

The then 28-year-old Holly felt nervous taking over from long-time presenter Fern Britton after 10 years on This Morning in 2009.

To settle her in, Phil decided to prank Holly by pretending to walk away, as though he was going to leave her to present by herself.

When cameras went live, Holly looked like a rabbit in the headlights and Phil told viewers at home: "Morning! Just as the titles started I said, 'nah, I'm not doing it'."

"I know! Come back, I'm holding on very tightly," Holly fake-screeched as she yanked him back to her side.

Laughing, Phil said: "Welcome. How do you feel?"

"Erm, like this isn't really happening," Holly replied while still holding on to her partner's arm.

"Well you just said that a second ago, which makes me just a tad nervous," Phil joked.

He pretended to walk away from her seconds before the cameras started rolling (ITV)

The clip of her first day was run again in 2019 when This Morning aired its last ever episode in the ITV Southbank studios.

Looking back over the old footage, Phil exclaimed: "And you said I looked shiny and new."

Recalling her very first time presenting the show, Holly said: "I know, I'd just had Harry then, so Harry was about three months old I think, and I just remember this was one of the scariest things in my telly career I'd ever had to do.

"Because it's a huge show and I loved it as a viewer, so to come in that day and have to stand next to you as well, I mean the whole thing was just terrifying," she admitted.

Since then, the pair have gone on to become one of television's most popular presenting duos, picking up multiple awards for their work on This Morning - including several NTAs.

But Holly is said to be 'deeply upset' after Phillip released a public statement about their friendship, suggesting all is not well between them.

It is claimed Phillip kept Holly in the dark over his brother Timothy facing child sex offences, of which he was found guilty of and will be sentenced next week.

The duo are back on This Morning today for the first time since their 'feud' (ITV)

This led to Phillip taking three weeks off This Morning - and Holly herself was off the show for a week with shingles.

An insider told the Mail's Katie Hind: "Holly had to find out from someone else, which must have been awful for her. She has been so loyal to him."

Things are thought to be so strained between Holly and Phillip that the pair are now 'barely speaking' when they are not presenting This Morning.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed 42-year-old Holly has seemingly wiped Phillip from her social media in recent weeks.

In her Twitter bio she had previously written: "I was introduced to this by a Twitter legend," before tagging her presenting partner.

Her Twitter bio now reads: "Broadcaster, Founder of Wyldemoon, Brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer and Garnier, Author of Reflections" - something that didn't slip past her and Phil's viewers.

Their rocky friendship has made numerous headlines over the last few months (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Holly is also said to have been 'blindsided' by a statement Phillip released about their almost two decades long friendship.

In a statement to The Sun, Phillip shut down any suggestion that his friendship with Holly has suffered in recent weeks.

Describing her as his 'rock', he said: "The last few weeks haven't been easy for either of us. My family went through a real ordeal.

"And Holly's support throughout meant the world to me, as did the support of my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our amazing viewers."

Phillip explained that Holly had been his pal through "thick and thin".

Meanwhile, a source claimed it was "desperate stuff" from Phillip given the current state of their relationship.

It comes after sources claimed Holly was prepared to front This Morning alone, should Phillip leave the programme.

Insiders explained that their frosty relationship is clear to see for those around the pair in the TV studio and is completely different to how they appear on TV.

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