Holly Willoughby "won't tolerate attacks" on her TV host Phillip Schofield, it's been claimed.
The comments come after criticism of the ITV presenter by former This Morning colleague Eamonn Holmes.
Eamonn, who now works at GB News, described Phil as "passive aggressive" in an interview last month, after he quit This Morning after being on the show for 15 years.
Eamonn also appeared to like a tweet that praised him and wife Ruth Langsford but described Phil as "rude" behind the scenes.
Following the digs, it was reported that Phillip's ITV colleagues had "rallied round" him following such reports, with his co-presenter Holly, 41, said to be supporting him amid the criticisms, writes The Mirror.
A TV source said that while Holly doesn't "usually like getting herself involved in drama," the presenter "puts her foot down" when people target her co-host Phil.
Speaking to Heat magazine, the source said that Holly feels that "what happens on the show should remain between the stars" and she doesn't feel the need to discuss such matters in public.
"Privately she's let it be known that she's not happy with what Eamonn has said and how he has conducted himself," the source added.
She is said to disagreeswith comments made by Eamonn, and considers Phil a "consummate professional" who has been "kind and fair" over their years together. They became presenting partners in 2006.
The source further commented that Holly - who also co-hosts Dancing on Ice with Phil - "will not tolerate people attacking him," adding that "he doesn't deserve it."
They said that she will "always defend him" and is "grateful" for the amount of support he has given her over the years.
Eamonn and Ruth presented This Morning together for more than a decade, and took over as hosts from Holly and Phil on Fridays and during holidays.
They were replaced by Alison Hammond, 47, and Dermot O'Leary, 48, last year. Eamonn has since joined GB News as a presenter and Ruth remains on Loose Women.
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