Phillip Schofield confronted Holly Willoughby in tense phone call after their angry feud was exposed
EMOTIONAL Phillip Schofield confronted This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby in a tense phone call shortly after their rift was made public.
Phil fears he could be axed by from the ITV daytime show over their widening feud.
And her close pal Dermot O’Leary is tipped as a frontrunner to replace Phil if he does go.
It comes after The Sun revealed this week that the pair’s once-close relationship was crumbling.
Sources said it was apparent to staff on the set of This Morning that they were barely speaking when the cameras weren’t rolling.
Insiders said Holly had made it clear to ITV bosses she was prepared to continue fronting This Morning without Phil if he left, insisting that they were “separate entities”.
The Sun has now learned that Holly, 42, and Phil, 61, have grown so distant they have even abandoned their annual ritual of holidaying together with their families.
A source said: “Phil loves This Morning, it’s his life and he wants to stay. He scared he’s going to be pushed out over what’s happened.
“Phil said he’s going to fight to keep his job but he’s under no illusion he has become deeply unpopular with some people on the show and some sections of the public. His relationship with Holly had become more distant recently but Phil had no idea it would all become so public and that she wanted to strike out alone.”
Schofield phoned his TV partner of 14 years soon after their rift was revealed.
A source said: “Things have been difficult between them, but for it to play out so publicly was the last thing Phil was ever expecting.
“He has spoken with Holly over the phone about how this all played out. He’s devastated by it all and is incredibly upset.”
The Sun told yesterday how Schofield — who has worked on This Morning for 21 years — issued a statement alluding to the issues within their relationship but vowed to stick by Holly.
But those close to him said he was saddened that Holly had chosen not to speak publicly on the matter.
A pal said: “Phil put out that statement saying Holly was his best friend in the hope it would prompt her to do the same.
“To Phil, her silence is deafening. He feels blindsided, betrayed and has been left really upset by it all.”
Phil lobbied for Holly to join This Morning as co-presenter when Fern Britton, 65, left the show.
Holly joined him in 2009 and the pair — who also co-host Dancing on Ice — have earned 12 National Television Awards between them.
Her apparent determination to strike out alone has sparked speculation as to who might be her next on-screen partner, should Phil be taken out of the picture.
Insiders say Dermot O’Leary’s popularity — coupled with his close friendship with Holly — made him an obvious candidate.
Dermot, 49, co-hosts with Alison Hammond on Fridays and yesterday posed with a ceremonial sword carried by Tory minister Penny Mordaunt at the King’s Coronation last Saturday.
A show source said: “Phil’s contract is up for renewal at the end of this year and, as it stands, there are a number of people working on the show who think it’s time for a shake-up.
“It’s still a long way off and anything could happen but there is no hiding Dermot’s popularity — or his close relationship with Holly.
“When Dermot stepped in to replace Phil during his recent absence, viewers loved his partnership with Holly. He is a good friend to her so naturally she would be thrilled if they were able to work together more often.”
Dermot was an usher at Holly’s wedding to TV boss Dan Baldwin in 2007.
And last month she told her 8.2million Instagram followers that Dermot had sent a care package of chicken soup and salt beef when she was forced to miss This Morning for a week because she was suffering from shingles.
Yesterday bookies had Dermot as favourite to replace Phil should he depart.
TV insiders said there could also be the option of a main presenter with a rotation of co-hosts, such as Alison, Josie Gibson, Vernon Kay, Rylan Clark and Joel Dommett.
Holly and Phil are expected to return to This Morning on Monday.
They put on brave faces on screen earlier this week — hours after their rift was made public.
But a body language expert said Holly looked “uncomfortable”.
Tensions between the pair have bubbled away for some time and more recently have been affected by Phil’s brother’s court case.
Timothy Schofield was convicted of 11 sexual offences, inc-luding two of sexual activity with a child, between October 2016 and October 2019.
He is to be sentenced on Friday at Bristol crown court.
Pay days rocket for loved TV twosome
By Josh Saunders
HOLLY and Phil have made a fortune during their 14-year partnership, with big money TV deals and brand partnerships.
Following a pay row back in 2017 when it was revealed Phil was earning £200,000 more than Holly, the pair were put on to equal salaries for This Morning and Dancing On Ice in deals believed to be worth around £1million a year.
Holly’s popularity in recent years has skyrocketed. She hosted Take Off with Bradley Walsh and Wim Hof’s Superstar Survival on the BBC, which are reported to have netted her £500,000-plus.
She has also signed a mega deal with Marks & Spencer, which is thought to be worth almost £1million.
Holly also works with Garnier and Dunelm Mill, with whom she launched her third collection of bedding this year.
Those deals are also said to have netted her £1million each.
Phil, meanwhile, has earned less from brand deals, although his 2020 autobiography, Life’s What You Make It, is believed to have made him £1.45million.
Last year he lost his £1million contract with WeBuyAnyCar.