Holly Willoughby's This Morning future 'is hanging by a thread'

Holly Willoughby’s This Morning future ‘is hanging by a thread’: Star’s position on the ITV daytime show could be ‘untenable’ after Phillip Schofield’s shock affair admission, insider claims

• Holly Willoughby is facing questions over what she knew about Schofield’s affair
• Yesterday Schofield admitted cheating on his wife with young male colleague

Holly Willoughby’s future on This Morning is said to be ‘hanging by a thread’, after Phillip Schofield revealed he had an affair with a teenager working on the show.

Schofield, 61, made a bombshell confession to the Mail last night that he had a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning while still married to wife Stephanie Lowe.

Now his former co-host of 13 years is facing questions over whether she knew of his ‘deceit’ after working with him so closely for so long.

Insiders told GB News that Schofield’s admission could make Holly’s future on the show ‘untenable’.

While ITV said today it did investigate rumours of Schofield’s affair with a younger male employee – but both of them denied it when questioned.

Holly Willoughby’s future on This Morning is said to be ‘hanging by a thread’, after Phillip Schofield revealed he had an affair with a teenager working on the show 

When Schofield came out as gay in 2020, Holly wrote on Instagram that she had ‘never been more proud of my friend than I am today’

A source told GB News the situation could leave a ‘huge cloud’ over Holly, 41, even if was genuinely hoodwinked by Schofield.

‘There’s a growing feeling it might be better both for her and for the programme to move on so that a line can be drawn under things,’ they said.

Holly is also reportedly upset that her name could be ‘dragged through the mud’.

The source added: ‘Whether she has a future on the show really is hanging by a thread.

‘There’s a sense that the situation is fast becoming untenable for all involved.’

The news comes as bookmakers now say that Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are favourite to become the next joint hosts if Holly leaves.

Yesterday, Schofield also confessed that he lied to his employer ITV, to his colleagues, his friends and his agents at the management firm YMU. 

Though questions linger over what Holly knew. The co-stars had previously plastered holiday snaps all over Instagram, showing them doing shots and posing in the sunshine, with Schofield labelling Holly his ‘bestie’. He also described her as ‘my rock’ when reports of their feud emerged earlier this month.

Holly Willoughby sat alongside Schofield on daytime TV’s most famous sofa for 13 years, and enjoyed a very public friendship with him and wife Stephanie, even holidaying together most years

Holly Willoughby, Schofield’s co-host of 13 years, is facing questions over whether she knew of his ‘deceit’ after working with him so closely for so long

When Schofield came out as gay in 2020, Holly wrote on Instagram that she had ‘never been more proud of my friend than I am today’ and was said to have thrown her support behind Stephanie in the lead up to and aftermath of the announcement.

A source said at the time: ‘Holly loves Steph and knows the two of them had been having some really difficult conversations. She was there for them both during this time and would, of course, never betray their confidence.’

Holly was often pictured sharing drinks with the couple at sporting events they attended like Wimbledon and Ascot.

However, the presenter has remained silent since publishing a brief 39-word statement after Schofield’s departure from This Morning last week.

She is halfway through a two-week break from presenting duties having taken early half term holiday leave and is due back on the sofa on Monday, June 5.

Yet This Morning now faces an uncertain future, with staff at ITV left stunned by Schofield’s revelation night, sparking suspicion of their bosses and questions over if and what they knew about one of their biggest stars and his much younger male friend.

Phillip Schofield, 61 shares emotional walk with mum Pat in the West Country after his brother Timothy was jailed for 12 years (pictured on May 19 after stepping down from This Morning)

ITV’s press office slammed their former star presenter’s ‘admissions of deceit’ – essentially throwing him under the bus. The channel confirmed that they had accepted his resignation and that he would not be hosting the British Soap Awards.

But at the helm of the channel is a group of executives it would be hard to believe were not aware of the allegations.

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Holly Willoughby for comment.

Schofield admitted the affair, which he claimed was ‘unwise but not illegal’, in a lengthy statement released on Friday, in which he also apologised to his wife and family.

Meanwhile, Eamonn Holmes – who previously presented the show alongside wife Ruth Langsford – continued to make a string of allegations suggesting station bosses knew of claims against Schofield and ‘never once took action’.

The 63-year-old broadcaster – who formerly presented on This Morning alongside Schofield, 61 – sensationally claimed bosses knew ‘what kind of man’ the star was and did not take action.

Source: Read Full Article