Alison Hammond and Dermot OLeary furious over being made to do Schofe tribute

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary are reportedly "furious" they were made to pay tribute to Phillip Schofield days before his affair was exposed.

The duo gave a nod to Phil, 61, after he left This Morning, days before he admitted to the affair and quit ITV altogether.

Last Monday (May 22), Alison and Dermot opened This Morning with a tribute to Phil, saying: "We can't start the show without paying tribute to the man who spent the last two decades sitting on the This Morning sofa.

READ MORE: 'Livid' Loose Women star 'made formal complaint' about Phillip Schofield affair

"Quite simply, we all know he's one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had and we and all the team wish him all the best."

Dermot added: "As a show, everyone on and off screen want to say a huge thank you to Phil for what he's done to make the show a success over the last 21 years."

But just days later on Friday (May 26), Schofe admitted he'd had an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male member of staff – and that he'd lied about it to cover it up.

Now, Alison and Dermot have reportedly been left "furious".

A source claimed to The Mirror: "The telling thing in all of this is the silence where Phil’s colleagues could have stepped in to back him. No one wants to be damaged by association.

"There is a real shock behind the scenes that such a successful show has been so badly hit by the actions of one presenter.

"The thinking last week was that when it returned after the summer, Phil would not be replaced by one person – but that there’d be a rolling rota on the sofa, much like there is on Good Morning Britain. But now those conversations seem irrelevant."

Holly Willoughby took a break from This Morning following Schofe's exit, and she has now slammed his deceit in a statement on Instagram.

She said: "t's taken time to process yesterday's news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It's been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie."

READ NEXT:

• This Morning hosts 'threaten to quit' after Phillip Schofield's lies are exposed

• Phillip Schofield still up for Best Presenter at NTAs despite ITV exit and affair

• Phillip Schofield's younger ex lover may 'expose details of affair' say pals

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