Amanda Holden appears to take thinly-veiled swipe at Phillip Schofield
No Holden her back! Amanda Holden appears to take thinly-veiled SWIPE at Phillip Schofield with cryptic post as he quits This Morning
- READ MORE: Phillip Schofield QUITS This Morning after 21 years
- READ MORE: Holly Willoughby breaks her silence after Phillip Schofield quits
Amanda Holden appeared to make a thinly-veiled swipe at her former colleague Phillip Schofield after he confirmed he has quit This Morning.
The presenter, 52, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a cryptic post just minutes after the shocking news was revealed amid Phillip’s ‘feud’ with co-host Holly.
She posted a strongman emoji in what appeared to be a sign of celebration and did not caption the post as she remained mysterious about its meaning.
Amanda previously worked with Phillip on This Morning and has not shied away from making her feelings known about him over the years amid their ongoing feud.
Following Amanda’s seemingly sly dig, fans couldn’t help but take to the comments section to speculate it was directed at Phillip.
Awkward! Amanda Holden appeared to make a thinly-veiled swipe at Phillip Schofield after he confirmed he has quit This Morning
Dig? She posted a strongman emoji in what appeared to be a sign of celebration just minutes after the shocking news was revealed
One wrote: ‘No words needed,’ while another said: ‘I know what that’s for.’
A third commented: ‘You would be a good replacement,’ suggesting she take over his role on the ITV breakfast show.
However, another fan deemed her post ‘unnecessary’ as they wrote: ‘This is not the way to do it. Completely unnecessary.’
Back in September, Amanda made a sly dig at Phillip amid the ‘Queue-gate’ saga as she made her feelings very clear on the presenter.
Her comments came after it was claimed he and co-host Holly jumped the queue at Westminster Hall in London last week to film a segment for This Morning while the late Queen lie in state.
On her Heart Breakfast Show, Amanda appeared to reference the controversy during a lighthearted chat with Ashley Roberts.
Ashley, 41, could be heard saying: ‘So David Beckham has landed a seven-figure deal with Qatar’s World Cup sponsor, Doritos. I love Doritos. I’d love a seven-figure deal.
To which Amanda slyly replied: ‘Get in line. Well, I mean he did get in line. Good on him.’
Ashley then referenced the football legend’s recent visit to see the queen’s visit where he waited in line alongside members of the public after turning down a VIP invite.
End of an era: Phillip Schofield has quit his role on This Morning after 21 years as host
Swipe: Back in September, Amanda made a sly dig at Phillip amid the ‘Queue-gate’ saga as she made her feelings very clear on the presenter
Saga: Her comments came after it was claimed he and Holly jumped the queue at Westminster Hall in London last week to film a segment for This Morning while the late Queen lie in state
Colleagues: Amanda first worked with Phillip after stepping into Holly’s shoes when the This Morning star took a year off the show to have her third baby in 2014
The Pussycat Doll said: ‘Well, yes he did for like 14 hours.’
And back in June 2019, When asked on her Heart Breakfast show what she wouldn’t want to find inside her home, Amanda said: ‘Spiders, flies and Phillip Schofield.’
Amanda first worked with Phillip after stepping into Holly’s shoes when the This Morning star took a year off the show to have her third baby in 2014.
Amanda previously said she believes that in 2018, Phillip sabotaged her chances of filling in on This Morning while Holly hosted I’m A Celeb.
A former daytime TV executive previously told The Sun: ‘Phillip actively campaigned for Rochelle, 30, to get the job despite Amanda being more experienced – and having been told privately she’d got the gig.’
READ MORE: Phillip Schofield QUITS This Morning after 21 years
The TV presenter, 61, has bowed out of the programme following reports of a feud with his co-host Holly Willoughby, with Thursday 18th May being his last ever show.
An ITV spokesperson later insisted that Rochelle’s casting was a decision made by producers, telling MailOnline: ‘Presenter line ups on This Morning change regularly and final decisions on these line ups are made by producers and not the presenters.
‘Phillip Schofield is a much loved broadcaster and part of the ITV family. He is a consummate professional and held in high regard at ITV. Amanda is also held in high regard as a judge on one of our biggest shows.’
But reports have long been rife about troubles between the TV hosts, with Amanda reportedly lobbying ITV executives after Schofield allegedly pushed for Rochelle Humes to take the job.
Her latest sly dig came just minutes after Phillip quit his role on This Morning after 21 years as host with immediate effect.
The TV presenter, 61, has bowed out of the programme following reports of a feud with his co-host Holly Willoughby, with Thursday 18th May his last ever show.
In a statement released on Saturday, Phillip said: ‘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.
Tension: Her latest sly dig came just minutes after Phillip quit his role on This Morning after 21 years as host with immediate effect (pictured with Holly on his last ever show on Thursday)
‘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.’
Holly Willoughby said: ‘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. The sofa won’t feel the same without him.’
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director, Media and Entertainment said: ‘Phillip is hands down one of the best broadcasters of his generation and we thank him for his two decades worth of absolutely terrific television on the This Morning sofa.
‘This Morning is made by one of the best and most diligent teams in television, who produce over 12 hours of live television each week.’
‘We look forward to continuing our relationship with Phillip starting with The British Soap Awards in June and a brand new peak time series to come.’
Holly uploaded a separate statement to her Instagram account which said: ‘Hi everyone… it’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank fim for all his knowledge, his expereince and his hmour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him.’
Holly will return to This Morning on Monday 5th June having taken an early half term holiday starting Monday 22nd May.
Phillip’s dramatic departure from This Morning comes after reports that he and Holly were no longer as close as they once were and hardly speak off-camera.
Feud: Phillip’s dramatic departure from This Morning comes after reports that he and Holly were no longer as close as they once were and hardly speak off-camera (Phillip pictued on 16 May, 2023)
Phillip said: ‘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’
Holly shared her own statement which said: ‘I want to take this opportunity to thank fim for all his knowledge, his expereince and his hmour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him’
In a surprising move, Phillip broke his silence earlier this month to insist that there has been no fallout with his co-host of 14 years following a string of controversies including Queuegate and his brother, Timothy, being convicted of child sex offences.
As Phillip admitted that ‘the last few weeks haven’t been easy for us,’ sources close to Holly told MailOnline that she had no idea that Phillip was going to make a statement. They added the first she saw of it was when it was published online.
‘The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us. As I have said before, Holly is my rock,’ Phil told The Sun.
‘We’re the best of friends — as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone. Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her.’
Bosses were said to be in crisis over the move, with reports that Holly wanted to pull the plug on their working relationship for good.
There had been talk as to why their 14-year reign as ‘besties’ is over, but the Mail’s Katie Hind has been told that at the heart of the fall-out is a dispute over whether Phillip confided in Holly that his brother Timothy, a police IT worker, faced charges of child sex offences.
Friends say Holly was in the dark until Phillip took a week’s leave from the ITV daytime show to avoid the limelight while the trial took place last month – something he is at pains to deny.
Timothy Schofield was convicted of 11 offences and was sentenced to 12 years in prison on 19 May.
Speaking out: Phillip broke his silence earlier this month to insist that there has been no fallout with Holly following a string of controversies including Queuegate and his brother, Timothy, being convicted of child sex offences
Controversy: Phillip said his family have been through ‘a real ordeal’ after his younger brother Timothy (pictured) was convicted of child sex offences
Backlash: Last year Holly and Phil faced a criticism over claims they ‘skipped the queue’ to see the Queen lying in state, with Holly said to be distraught over the uproar
Sources close to Holly claimed she was ‘deeply upset’ that she found out what was happening from a third party.
Not so long ago, the pair were undeniably close.
The duo became ‘great friends’ having first met on Dancing on Ice and they have presented This Morning together since 2009.
Holly was also described as Phillip’s ‘rock’ when he came out as gay live on This Morning in 2020.
Phil has had a tumultuous few months, taking a break from work when his brother was convicted of child sex offences.
Timothy Schofield, 54, was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual offences against his underage victim – with whom he watched porn while performing a sex act.
Phil took to social media after his brother was found guilty saying: ‘As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.’
In his statement, released on Thursday after they appeared back on This Morning, Phil said his family have been through ‘a real ordeal’.
History: The presenting duo (pictured in November 2009) have worked together for more than a decade after Holly took over from Fern Britton as Phillip’s co-host back in 2009
Support: Holly was also described as Phillip’s ‘rock’ when he came out as gay live on This Morning in 2020
Shutting down rumours of a feud, he said: ‘Holly’s support throughout meant the world to me, as did the support of my bosses at ITV, my editor Martin Frizell and the whole This Morning family, including our amazing viewers. And of course Holly has herself been ill with shingles.’
The pair were once an incredibly close TV double act.
After a National Television Awards win in 2016 they turned up for their slot seemingly hungover from celebrating the night before.
The unstoppable Holly! Nation’s TV sweetheart branded ‘two-faced’ has a core of steel
Her support when he came out as gay makes it all the more surprising that Schofield would keep the accusations against his brother a secret.
He said Holly was once again his ‘absolute rock’, but her friends told a different story.
One said: ‘Holly had to find out from someone else which must have been awful for her. She has been so loyal to him.
‘It has been upsetting for her, they have been pretty inseparable for 14 years. They have been through so much together, some happy and some really tough. But now their once super close friendship is no longer.’
Yesterday, a spokesman for the 42-year-old declined to comment when asked if she was kept in the dark over the court case. Schofield said it was ‘categorically untrue’.
In Phil’s absence from This Morning, Holly was paired with Alison Hammond and ITV bosses were said to be overjoyed by their chemistry and are now looking for more opportunities to pair them up, with Hammond set to be front and centre of the show’s 35th birthday celebrations in October.
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s director of television, has always been close to Phil, as have its head of daytime Emma Gormley and This Morning editor Martin Frizell.
But the star recently lost the support of Frizell – who was once so staunchly loyal to him that he ‘took the bullets fired at Schofield’.
Sources close to Frizell, the husband of former GMTV host Fiona Phillips, said that he was ‘fed up of clearing up Schofield’s mess’.
Recent controversies included his refusal to address jumping the queue to see the late Queen laying in state last September.
One source said: ‘Martin and Phil were once so close, a real team. Martin is an old-fashioned television man who believes in loyalty but things have changed.’
In recent weeks, Frizell was seen sitting in the canteen ‘with a face like thunder’ while the show was on air. Usually, sources say, he would be ‘jumping up and down in the gallery and in the studio’.
Meanwhile a source close to Holly revealed to MailOnline’s Dan Wootton: ‘The fallout with Phillip has been going on for quite some time.
‘For Holly there’s also a degree of her becoming concerned that some of the scandals connected to Phillip are damaging her reputation.
‘There’s an understandable element of, “I’ve got to think about my career, too”, She’s been seeking guidance from (her husband) Dan (Baldwin) and ITV on that front.
‘This hasn’t been about the last few weeks, but a number of months. She has always been loyal to Phillip and loved working with him.
‘But she’s also worked so hard to build her own reputation, so she can’t risk Phillip dragging her down.’
Early years: Phillip joined This Morning in 2002 where he co-hosted alongside Fern Britton for seven years before Holly joined in 2009 (pictured with Fern in 2005)
Phillip joined This Morning in 2002 where he co-hosted alongside Fern Britton for seven years before Holly joined in 2009.
It has also been claimed their feud goes back much further than queuegate and actually began three years ago, when Holly severed ties with their talent agencies.
It’s also thought that Phillip was irked when Holly landed a job filling in for Ant McPartlin as the host of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018.
The co-stars were once part of the same management – YMU Group – before Holly split from them to start her own agency Roxy Management.
However, her tie to her old management became a fraught one as they became embroiled in a legal battle over her future earnings/
The case was settled out of court, with Holly earning £1million from them.
Phillip on the other hand has chosen to stick with them and is even a shareholder – starting a series of divisions between the two.
According to The Sun, he is said to earn £1million from them and is a ‘big player’ in the group.
A source told the newspaper: ‘Holly quietly started to distance herself from Phil back in 2020. The legal issues rumbled on for 18 months but Holly fought for what was right.
Even earlier, in 2018, Phillip was widely known to be ‘annoyed’ after Holly was chosen to step in for Ant McPartlin to co-host I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here with Declan Donnelly.
While continuing to present This Morning with no Holly, Phillip admitted he wished he was also hosting the jungle show.
This only increased Holly’s success as a break-out star away from her former best friend Phil.
She became the presenter of Take Off With Bradley & Holly on BBC1 and launched her own lifestyle brand Wylde Moon in 2021.
Profitable collaborations followed for the presenter, including with Marks and Spencer, which is thought to have earned her £950,000.
Phil has tried to launch his own side projects – such as gameshow The Cube on ITV – but they have time and time again failed to get off the ground.
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