This Morning star Holly Willoughby has issued an emotional statement in response to Phillip Schofield's decision to quit the popular ITV show.
The 42-year-old presenter has said her job "won’t feel the same without him" following his swift departure from programme he has presented for 20 years.
It comes amid a reported 'feud' between the pair with tensions said to have been strained over the last few weeks.
READ MORE: Join ChronicleLive's Whatsapp community for breaking news and top stories
Schofield's brother, Timothy Schofield, 54, was jailed for 12 years this month after being convicted of child sex offences. Meanwhile, Willoughby has battled back from shingles.
Schofield, 61, will not return to co-host the morning talk show, with Thursday’s programme being his last. However, Willoughby will remain on This Morning and will co-present with members of the This Morning family, ITV have confirmed.
In a heartfelt statement, Willoughby said she has loved presenting alongside Schofield for more than a decade.
"It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour," she said.
The sofa won’t feel the same without him."
On quitting the show, Schofield said: "I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love. So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future."
READ NEXT:
New nightclub to open in South Shields town centre in time for Bank Holiday weekend
Newcastle cocktail bar named the best in the north for its 'theatrical' drinks
Police apologise to innocent man wrongly accused of Nikki Allan's murder
- Nikki Allan police satisfied no one else involved in killing of seven-year-old after David Boyd conviction
