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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Phillip Schofield unrecognisable in 40-year throwback as Holly Willoughby pays tribute

Holly Willoughby paid a gushing tribute to her friend Phillip Schofield as she rolled back the years with a throwback photo.

This Morning's Phil is celebrating 40 years in the entertainment industry today - and ITV even had Gordon the Gopher on hand to help him celebrate.

Holly couldn't let the landmark pass without taking to Instagram.

She ribbed her pal by reminding him that she watched him growing up on the TV in the iconic BBC broom cupboard.

Holly uploaded a shot from his early years on the box as fresh-faced Phil, wearing a Radio Rock jumper, gets down to work.

Holly dug out a throwback snap - and had some kind words to say (Instagram/ @hollywilloughby)

She captioned the photo: "Today the TV oracle marks his 40th year in the business… for a long time I watched you and then for the last 15 years I have been lucky enough to sit alongside you.

"You have taught me so much, you have always been patient and generous with me… It’s been an honour to play a part in your TV story… love you to bits @schofe."

Phil said on Lorraine that if "felt like yesterday" that he started as Dame Judi Dench and other stars recorded a special message for him.

The nice words are most welcome at the moment.

The pair have become friends still working together at ITV (Ken McKay/ITV/REX)

In an astonishing attack, former colleague Eamonn Holmes branded Phil 'passive-aggressive' - and claimed he has a habit of 'snubbing people'.

The GB News presenter also called ITV 'sly' over his exit.

Chatting with Daily Mail's Weekend magazine, Eamonn claims his former channel made it appear that he wanted to walk away from ITV when he had in fact been dropped.

Eamonn stated that "Phillip is renowned for snubbing people".

It was a tough week for Phil after Eamonn Holmes' explosive interview (S Meddle/ITV/REX)

He went on: "He's very passive-aggressive. It's up to Ruth to say how she felt, but I was feeling hurt for her.

"No one would have snubbed me like that."

He then took aim at ITV, saying: "They're sly. They didn't want to announce that I'd been dropped because it would adversely affect audience figures, so they made it look as if I'd walked away from them rather than the other way round," the journalist sensationally revealed.

"They had a chat with my agent and announced that I was going to GB News when they'd done no more than ask if I'd be interested in joining them."

A spokesperson for ITV told the Mirror: "This isn't a version of events that we recognise and as we have said before we wish Eamonn all of the very best."

On the topic of diversity, they added: "As we have laid out in our Diversity Acceleration plan we are committed to improving representation both on and off screen and we publicly report on our progress against our commitments and targets."

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