EXCLUSIVE: Holly Willoughby gets teary as she talks about the pressures of TV… and how she met Phillip Schofield hosting Dancing on Ice amid pair’s rumoured feud
An emotional Holly Willoughby has reminisced about meeting Phillip Schofield on their hit show Dancing on Ice, amid rumours of a brewing feud between the ITV presenters.
The host, 38, struggled to contain herself at the show’s press launch on Monday, where she and Phil, 57, put on a united front in an attempt to dispel claims that they are at war behind the scenes.
In an interview with MailOnline Holly apologised for being tearful, saying: ‘Phil and I met on this show. There’s a lot of history. You’re going to set me off.’
History: An emotional Holly Willoughby has reminisced about meeting Phillip Schofield on their hit show Dancing on Ice, amid rumours of a brewing feud between the ITV presenters
Holly continued: ‘My kids really love the show as well.
‘I get quite emotional thinking about it, that all of them were carried in my tummy on this show and when we finished I always went off and had the babies.
‘So now it’s really nice because they love it and I tend to split it, I bring one of them each week, they come for the whole day and sit through the rehearsals. It’s really nice. It’s a real family show.’
Proving their close friendship and working partnership is still going strong, Phil joked to Holly: ‘You’re not pregnant are you?’ as she made every effort to compose herself.
Friends: The presenter, 38, struggled to contain her emotions at the ITV show’s press launch on Monday, where she and Phil, 57, put on a united front
Speaking about the pressures of hosting two of ITV’s biggest shows simultaneously, Phil added: ‘The thing is, This Morning is an entirely different thing. It’s different muscles, different speeds and different thoughts.
‘You get nervous; Dancing on Ice is a big show. You want to make sure it’s right. But we have the easy job really, at least we’re not risking life and limb on the ice.’
Holly and Phil’s appearance on Monday comes just days after Phil was accused of creating a ‘toxic atmosphere’ for his This Morning co-stars, with allegations of ongoing spats with Holly and stand-in hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes.
But the duo quashed speculation as they reunited for the launch of the competition series – set to air in January.
Tears: In an interview with MailOnline Holly apologised for being tearful, saying: ‘Phil and I met on this show. There’s a lot of history. You’re going to set me off’
Holly cut a glamorous figure in a strapless black dress which was adorned with silver stitching, while Phil cut a dapper figure in a sharp black suit and white shirt.
Holly and Phil returned to This Morning on Monday – marking the first time since reports of their bitter feud emerged.
When they returned to screens for the daytime chat show, fans said it seemed like the close duo had fallen out over something due to the tense atmosphere.
Tense? When they returned to screens for the daytime chat show on Monday, fans said it seemed like the close duo had fallen out over something due to the tense atmosphere
Many took to Twitter to express their views, with one writing: ‘#ThisMorning you can cut the atmosphere with a knife on This Morning. Phil and Holly no longer working!! #timeforachange.’
While another also commented on the awkwardness, saying: ‘Holly over talking and Phil over listening #elephantintheroom #ThisMorning.’
A third said: ‘Is it me or do Holly and Phil look like they’ve had a falling out looks awkward #ThisMorning.’
Also referencing the ‘elephant in the room’, another person said: ‘So is @schofe and @hollywills going to make a comment on the elephant in the room?
Reaction: Many took to Twitter to express their views on their first TV appearance since the claims emerged
‘It’s the only reason we are still watching right??? #ThisMorning.’
One commenter said: ‘Just put This Morning on, you can tell Holly cant’ be bothered with Phil. Friendships/people you work with are like relationships, after years of being together they come to a natural end.’
While another thought it felt forced, writing: ‘Omg they’re both trying a bit too hard #ThisMorning.’
Agreeing with this, another said: ‘Nice way to cover up the big #phillipschofield feud then #ThisMorning.’
A third said: ‘Is it me or do Holly and Phil look like they’ve had a falling out looks awkward #ThisMorning’
It is claimed eight different ITV presenters have broken their silence regarding Phillip’s attitude. The show’s Friday presenter Ruth, 59, is said to have made an official complaint.
A report stated the situation behind the scenes at This Morning had become ‘toxic’ in recent months, with employees too scared to speak out publicly for fear of backlash.
An ITV source told The Sun: ‘For so long people have been silenced because they are scared for their job. If they speak out publicly about the atmosphere they fear there could be repercussions.’
Feud? There are allegations of ongoing spats with Holly and This Morning stand-in hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes (pictured together last week)
Body language expert on Holly and Phil’s This Morning appearance amid feud claims
MailOnline’s Judi James says:
‘Both Holly and Phil are veteran TV presenters and its hugely unlikely they would ever allow any negative inner feelings or relationships show on screen. If they did, I would expect over-congruent displays like stretched, rigid smiles and intensified laughing/touching displays to try to prove and rumours about fall-outs wrong.
‘If there is any change in their dynamic this morning it appears that Holly might be taking a less compliant and more dominant role, initiating a lot of the speaking and even raising one hand in the outdoor VT to signal that she intended to make the next comments.
‘I hate the word ‘bubbly’ but that has been word commonly used to describe her presenting style, but today she appeared adopt rather more serious and ‘adult’ demeanor on screen. Outside the building she had her coat thrown over her shoulders like a cape but her rather self-diminished poses were probably just down to the fact that it was a very chilly morning.
‘Back in the studio she sat confidently, looking straight at camera and there did seem to be a bit less of the tie-signs you normally get from the couple when they’re being ‘fun’ together, however they always do vary their body language behaviour together according to the subject of their interviews.
‘If there was any tension from Holly it might have come from the way she was picking at the sleeve of her jumper in one scene then fidgeting with her cue card in another and picking at her little finger in a third.
‘Even so, small self-comfort gestures like this would be normal from anyone working under the pressure of a daily live show like this. One thing both Holly and Phil excel at is making a very difficult job look very easy.’
An insider close to Holly added to the paper: ‘It’s true there have been some issues. They’re like brothers and sisters – they have ups and downs but love each other.’
Hitting back at the reports, a spokesperson for ITV said: ‘It’s deeply disappointing and unfair for Phillip to be the target of this sort of malicious gossip.’
‘Phillip is a much respected broadcaster and colleague and this is absolutely not a description of This Morning that we recognise.
‘Holly and Phil are great friends both on and off screen and are popular among viewers and colleagues alike.’
Dressed to impress: Holly cut a glamorous figure in a strapless black dress which was adorned with silver stitching, while Phil cut a dapper figure in a sharp black suit and white shirt
Say cheese: The hosts posed for photos before this year’s celebrity line-up worked the camera
Martin Frizell, Editor of This Morning explained: ‘I spend hundreds of days a year in their company and what you see is what you get, a genuine friendship from a couple who are both spontaneously funny and professional.
‘We have the smartest viewers watching telly and believe me they would be the first to notice any issues – they haven’t because there are none.’
The Mail on Sunday revealed relations on set are said to be so bad, Ruth and husband Eamonn snubbed the show’s Christmas party to avoid Phillip, after a series of behind-the-scenes rows, with the silver-maned ITV stalwart being described as ‘rude’.
Ruth and Eamonn host the Friday episode of This Morning and sit in for other presenters’ holidays, but were surprisingly absent last week from the no-expense-spared dinner at a West London restaurant where 23 of their colleagues enjoyed a four-course meal and champagne to celebrate the holiday season.
Missing: Holly shared a snap form the This Morning Christmas party on Instagram in which regular Friday hosts Ruth and Eamonn were nowhere to be seen
The tension between Ruth and Phillip stems from April when they spoke over each other while she was doing a live preview of Loose Women, which she also hosts.
As he cut her off abruptly, saying: ‘We’re a bit tight for time at this end,’ she retorted: ‘I only had about two more words to say, don’t worry.’
Since then, it seems relations between Phillip, Ruth and a protective Eamonn have only deteriorated.
The rift is causing anxiety at YMU, the agency formerly known as James Grant, which represents all four.
The show must go on: The pair continued to adhere to their hosting duties despite the feud rumours
It is also understood that Phillip is playing down Ruth’s grievance over being cut off by insisting it was the fault of the show’s production team.
A source revealed: ‘There are an increasing number of presenters who say that when the cameras aren’t running the atmosphere is toxic.
‘Phillip is a man with high standards, he has survived a long time in the TV world. There has been an almighty clash. There is currently one household name on ITV daytime who refers to him as “the c***”.’
Phillip, who joined This Morning in 2002, is also said to be envious that Eamonn, 60, was given an OBE last year for services to broadcasting.
Speaking out: Earlier on Monday, Amanda Holden weighed into the latest controversy surrounding Phillip by praising his This Morning co-hosts for standing up for themselves
Despite the controversy, Phillip has taken to Twitter to thank fans for voting for This Morning to win an I Talk Telly award – seemingly ignoring the recent rumours about him causing a ‘toxic’ atmosphere on set.
The presenter posted the video with the simple caption ‘Thank You’, in which he gushes about his and Willoughby’s fans, accepting the award for the fifth consecutive year.
MailOnline contacted a representative for further comment at the time of publication.
Earlier on Monday, Amanda Holden weighed into the latest controversy surrounding Phillip by praising his This Morning co-hosts for standing up for themselves amid a slew of alleged complaints regarding his behaviour.
Claims: Phillip is reported to have been furious at Holly (pictured with Declan Donnelly) for landing a presenting role on I’m A Celeb while Ant McPartlin recovered from alcohol issues
The presenter, 48, previously hit out at Phillip over claims he blocked her from filling in for regular co-host Holly while she spent three weeks in Australia presenting I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Addressing the latest claims on her Heart Radio show, Holden insisted she had moved on from her own spat with Phil, but conceded it may well have lit a fuse.
‘Listen, I’ve drawn a line under all those issues with Phillip,’ she told fellow presenter Jamie Theakston.
‘I’m just going to say I really admire anyone that’s going to stick up for themselves because it’s not an easy thing to do.
‘There’s a tin opener and a can somewhere and other people have found the tin opener. That’s all I’m saying.’
Speaking to The Sun, insiders previously revealed that Holden believed he scuppered her chances of filling in on This Morning during her absence in November and December 2018.
It’s understood that she headed to the top by lobbying ITV executives over the animosity after he allegedly pushed for former Saturdays star Rochelle Humes to take the job.
A former daytime TV executive told the publication: ‘Phillip actively campaigned for Rochelle Humes to get the job despite Amanda being more experienced – and having been told privately she’d got the gig.’
And addressing the host on Heart Radio in June, Amanda alluded to a rift when revealing the three things things she wouldn’t like to find in her home, flippantly telling fans: ‘Spiders, flies and Phillip Schofield.’
Claim: The 48-year old previously hit out at Schofield amid claims he blocked her from filling in for regular co-host Holly while she co-hosted I’m A Celebrity (pictured in 2015)
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