A regular This Morning star has lifted the lid on what the show has looked like behind the cameras this week after Phillip Schofield stepped down as presenter.
The show returned to ITV on Monday morning as usual, but instead saw Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary on the sofa in place of Phil, who confirmed his exit at the weekend, and Holly Willoughby, who is taking a break from This Morning over half-term. Alison and Dermot opened the show by paying tribute to Phil's tenure, thanking him for "what he's done to make the show such a success over the last 21 years".
And now one of their co-stars has spoken out about the "atmosphere" behind the scenes following Phillip's departure from the show. Royal Family correspondent Camilla Tominey, 44, said that things are "muted" in the studio, following rumours of a "feud" between Phil and Holly in the lead-up to his exit, BirminghamLive reports.
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The Daily Telegraph's Associate Editor, who regularly appears on the show alongside Gyles Brandreth, wrote in a column: "Monday morning's atmosphere was understandably muted. While we have grown used to the hugely likeable Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary standing in for Phil and Holly, who is now on half-term holiday until June 5, the finality of Schofield’s departure was impossible to ignore with a farewell at the beginning of the programme.
"Alison was clearly quite nervous as the task fell upon her comparatively inexperienced shoulders to pay tribute to her former co-star." She added: "Viewers could perhaps be forgiven for wondering why there wasn’t an Ant and Dec-style montage of his best bits, but this is television, folks.
"Twenty one years on a show summarised in 35 seconds before moving on to the next feature. It’s brutal, but that's the way it works because it’s the only way it can work: the viewers must always come first."
It comes after ITV issued a new statement earlier this week denying that Holly Willoughby had played a role in Phil stepping down from This Morning after reports that the pair had been left "barely speaking" behind the scenes. A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: "Phillip Schofield’s decision to step down from This Morning was (as his statement made clear) a decision agreed between Phillip and ITV."
Phil said in his own statement announcing his exit: "I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.
"Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind. 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. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me – especially This Morning's amazing viewers – and I'll see you all for the Soap Awards next month."
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