PLATELL'S PEOPLE: Moment I knew the Holly and Phil show was finished

2023-05-12

PLATELL’S PEOPLE: This is the moment I knew the Holly and Phil show was finished for good

Like millions of people I’ve long been a fan of Holly and Phil’s This Morning show, the jewel in ITV’s daytime TV crown.

We all supported Phillip Schofield when he came out as gay live on TV in 2020 after 27 years of marriage.

Holly Willoughby, his dear friend of decades, was by his side on the sofa and hugged him.

They’ve been through so much together — for nearly two decades they’ve been one of the most famous double acts on television and we’ve loved them.

Even after they apparently jumped the queue to see the Queen lying in state most of us forgave them.

AMANDA PLATELL: Like millions of people I’ve long been a fan of Holly and Phil’s This Morning show, the jewel in ITV’s daytime TV crown

But now their friendship seems to be at breaking point. And though Phil’s put out a statement insisting ‘We’re the best of friends — as always’, insiders are far from convinced, with one saying his protestation was ‘desperate’. It’s claimed the couple are ‘barely speaking’ off camera.

What a terrible mess. How grizzly to see such a public break-up.

The moment that convinced me it was all over for them was Thursday’s show. The pair performed a silly dance to Lulu’s Boom Bang-A-Bang, he prancing like a man possessed, she clearly embarrassed at this faux show of unity. Excruciating.

It started to go wrong when Phil took time off after his brother was convicted of sexually abusing a child. Was it that Phil didn’t confide in Holly about his brother? That Holly enjoyed his absence? Friends say that whatever happens, she’s staying with This Morning, making it clear it will be the Holly show, which seems a bit vainglorious.

Whatever the case, morning TV should be cheerful, silly, life-enhancing. This is the opposite. It’s got ugly.

I have the tiniest of insights into how TV couples can fall out, having done two series of a Channel 4 political show with Piers Morgan, called Morgan & Platell.

Holly Willoughby and Phil Schofield pictured on This Morning earlier this week

In the beginning we had great chemistry and were friends. By the end it was screaming matches, which he won because he was a better presenter than me, and we couldn’t stand the sight of each other.

Happily we rekindled our friendship after we parted company.

I hope Holly and Phil can, too. But given that painfully cringe-making dance on Thursday’s show, I’m not sure it will happen.

Guilty of nonsense

A trans woman is given nine years for raping a female friend. Lexi-Rose Crawford was referred to during the trial as ‘Miss’ and the indictment used in court ludicrously specified ‘her penis’ was used in the rape.

What nonsense. My view remains that a person with a penis is not a woman.

Although good luck, Lexi-Rose, serving your time in an all-men’s prison.

AMANDA PLATELL: Lexi-Rose Crawford was referred to during the trial as ‘Miss’ and the indictment used in court ludicrously specified ‘her penis’ was used in the rape

We miss Chelsy’s Prince Happy

Prince Harry blames the media for his gorgeous girlfriend of six years Chelsy Davy breaking off their romance.

Pictures of them together show a different Harry from the one we know today: deliriously happy, affectionate and unaffected — quite unlike the miserable git he’s become since he met Meghan.

AMANDA PLATELL: Prince Harry blames the media for his gorgeous girlfriend of six years Chelsy Davy breaking off their romance

It appears the Duchess of Sussex has employed Kim Kardashian’s ex-security guard as her minder.

He was with her on her first public appearance since her no-show at the Coronation, hiking in the Californian bush. Given she was wearing Princess Diana’s £17,800 diamond Cartier watch and more than £100,000 worth of jewellery, no wonder she wanted the burly beefcake.

A ray of sunshine from BBC comedy Colin From Accounts about an adorable border terrier who gets hit by a car, suffers spinal damage and can only walk with wheels attached. It’s tender, heart-warming and funny. Although my moggie Ted, who watched it with me, says the moment he has to walk with wheels, he wants a ticket to Dignitas.

Terrible reviews for new movie Book Club: The Next Chapter starring Jane Fonda and Diane Keaton about a group of older women sozzled on Prosecco. Meanwhile Last Vegas, starring Michael Douglas and Morgan Freeman sozzled on vodka, was a hit. When did it become hilarious for older men to age disgracefully but not women?

Oz put on the map!

Great excitement chez Platell before my Eurovision party tonight as Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham revealed Australia had made it into the finals. Curmudgeons say they shouldn’t be allowed to compete as they’re not in Europe. But when did details matter in a song contest where most entrants can’t sing? On the other hand, it could be viewers thought they were voting for Albania . . .

Scruff at the top, Ed?

Beyonce kicks off her 57-date world tour with a three-hour show featuring nine costume changes, including one outfit with fake arms and hands lovingly stroking her crotch. Not exactly the Ed Sheeran on-stage approach of jeans, a lumberjack jacket and crumpled T-shirt. Yet it’s his album Subtract that’s the fastest-selling this year.

AMANDA PLATELL: Beyonce kicks off her 57-date world tour with a three-hour show featuring nine costume changes

Much tut-tutting as Robert De Niro, 79, announces his seventh child, this one with Tiffany Chen: ‘He’s old enough to be the baby’s great-grandpa!’ ‘What’s in it for her?’ Well, call me a cynic, but he is worth $500million.

At last a great idea: giving pharmacists the power to administer prescription drugs for minor ailments such as earache — easing the burden on GPs. My wonderful pharmacist of 25 years knows more about my medical history than any of the rolling dozen or so GPs I get to see at the local surgery.

Westminster wars

Bad enough that ‘impartial’ civil servant Sue Gray was in talks with Keir Starmer to become his chief of staff while overseeing the inquiry into Partygate. Now Sky reveals Gray had ‘personal contact’ during that period with the inquiry’s chair, former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman.

Partygate wasn’t just a witch-hunt, it was a straightforward Labour stitch-up.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was furious with Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch for not announcing her U-turn on the burning of hated EU laws in Parliament, but doing so in a newspaper instead. Not half as furious as the 17 million who voted for Brexit, though!

AMANDA PLATELL: Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was furious with Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch for not announcing her U-turn on the burning of hated EU laws in Parliament, but doing so in a newspaper instead

Rishi gets my vote as we learn he’s a fan of Jilly Cooper’s bonkbusters. His favourite novel Riders features cad Rupert Campbell-Black, in those eye-wateringly tight breeches. Although our diminutive PM would, of course, need a ladder to get into the saddle of Rupert’s huge steed.

Trump or Joe… God help America

Donald Trump hits back at a jury finding against him in a sexual assault civil case, saying he can’t remember meeting his accuser E. Jean Carroll. Astonishingly, his poll ratings went up and he says he’ll stand for President at the next election. So they’ll have to choose between a sexist who can’t remember the women he’s abused or doddery Joe Biden who probably can’t remember when he last had sex.

AMANDA PLATELL: Donald Trump hits back at a jury finding against him in a sexual assault civil case, saying he can’t remember meeting his accuser E. Jean Carroll

Actor Stephen Tompkinson of DCI Banks fame was cleared by a jury of attacking and causing head injuries to a man who appeared with a pal drunk and aggressive outside his family home at 3am. The heads that need examining are those of the TV execs who blacklisted the star when he was charged. Call me old-fashioned, but what is not to admire about a man prepared to protect his castle?

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