Phillip Schofield’s celeb pals rush to defence amid Amanda Holden feud

‘You’re an absolute pleasure to work with!’: Phillip Schofield’s celeb pals rush to his defence with supportive messages amid Amanda Holden feud

He’s been embroiled in a feud with Amanda Holden for a number of years, which was reignited over the weekend when she reportedly claimed he blocked her from landing a hosting gig.

And Phillip Schofield’s celebrity pals have jumped to his defence with supportive messages on social media, after the This Morning presenter admitted he endured a ‘really sad weekend’ amid the ‘hurtful’ rumours.

Dancing On Ice champ James Jordan rallied around the host, 57, as he insisted the TV favourite was an ‘absolute pleasure to work with’ during their time on the ITV competition series earlier this year.

Support: Phillip Schofield’s celebrity pals have jumped to his defence with messages on social media amid his feud with Amanda Holden

Phillip spoke out for the first time since ‘hurtful and untrue’ details of his increasingly acrimonious relationship with BGT judge Amanda, 48, emerged last week. 

The former Cube presenter posted to Twitter on Sunday: ‘The end of another really sad weekend. When you try for 35 years to be the easiest, most fun person to work with and you read such hurtful and wildly untrue stories from nameless “sources”. 

‘Obviously I’ll take it on the chin. I just hope you know me better’ [sic], the devastated star added.

Throwing his support behind Phillip, former Strictly pro James, 41, responded: ‘It was an absolute pleasure to work with you on DOI. 

Far from pals: The This Morning host, 57, has been embroiled in a feud with the BGT judge, 48, for a number of years (pictured together in 2015)

Rally around: James Jordan insisted the TV favourite was an ‘absolute pleasure to work with’ during DOI earlier this year (pictured with Holly Willoughby and Alexandra Schauman)

Sad times: Phillip spoke out for the first time since ‘hurtful and untrue’ details of his increasingly acrimonious relationship with the radio host emerged last week 

‘A true professional but always very supportive and caring. And yes you’re fun, just not as fun as me. You’re a top man. Lots of jealous people out there mate.’

Echoing his comments, skater Matt Evers, 43, added: ’12 series… that 12 years on and off screen. Either on the ice or This Morning and…

‘Never… not once have I seen nor heard a bad thing from you. Your spirit and professionalism has always been at the highest level. #keepthatchinup’, he added.

Perfumer Jo Malone, 55, also praised the award-winning host for maintaining his ‘kind’ nature at work.

Sweet comment: Throwing his support behind Phillip, former Strictly pro James, 41, gushed: ‘A true professional but always very supportive and caring’

In agreement: Echoing his comments, skater Matt Evers, 43, added: ’12 series… that 12 years on and off screen… never… not once have I seen nor heard a bad thing from you’

A fan: Perfumer Jo Malone, 55, also praised the award-winning host for maintaining his ‘kind’ nature at work 

Pals: ‘Always an absolute gentleman anytime I worked on This Morning. Ignore the hate, be true to yourself and keep on entertaining the masses’, TV presenter James Green also tweeted

She explained on the micro-blogging site: ‘Dear Schofe I would like to say thank you , everytime I have been on the show with u both or have met you out and about you have ALWAYS been a kind, interested, life enhancing gentleman who looks to give back, TQ ♥️.’

‘Always an absolute gentleman anytime I worked on This Morning. Ignore the hate, be true to yourself and keep on entertaining the masses’, TV presenter James Green also tweeted. 

On Monday, radio host Amanda claimed Phillip ‘ignored’ an ‘olive branch’ she offered last year in the hope of putting their feud to bed.

The mother-of-two revealed she tried to go for a coffee with the host in attempt to bury the hatchet, but he declined her invitation.

Pressed about the matter during her Heart FM radio show by her co-host Jamie Theakston, she said: ‘I’ve moved on from it, Jamie, you need to move on from it.

‘I did offer to meet [Phillip] for a coffee months ago, he didn’t reply to my text. What can I say?’

Jamie replied: ‘The olive branch had been extended.’ To which she replied: ‘Oh, yes.’

Thanks, no thanks: On Monday, radio host Amanda claimed Phillip ‘ignored’ an ‘olive branch’ she offered last year in the hope of putting their feud to bed

Comparing the spat to the famous Taylor Swift/Katy Perry fall out, which was recently reconciled by the pop starlets in a music video in which they dressed up as fast food, Jamie asked: ‘In a kind of Katy Perry/Taylor Swift moment, will there maybe be a burger and fries moment for you guys?’

‘I doubt it,’ Amanda bit back. ‘I’m a vegetarian, Jamie.’  

In Sunday’s The Sun, Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda said she believes Phillip sabotaged her chances of filling in on This Morning while Holly Willoughby hosted I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.

Reports have long been rife about troubles between the TV hosts, with the latest detail of the story claiming Amanda headed to the top by lobbying ITV executives over the animosity after Phil allegedly pushed for Rochelle Humes to take the job.

Not impressed: Sophie Prescott, who has made 24 appearances on This Morning, called for Amanda to be sacked from ITV completely amid her spat with Phillip (pictured in 2017)

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.

MailOnline has approached Amanda, Phillip and This Morning representatives for comment. An ITV spokesperson said: ‘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.’ 

This comes as Sophie Prescott – another past host of This Morning – has called for Amanda to be sacked from ITV completely amid her spat with Phillip. 

Frosty: The pair worked together on a Halloween show last year, but Sophie said Amanda should be ‘yellow-carded’ for her behaviour (pictured in 2017)

Sophie, who has presented 24 segments on the show, said that she found the presenter ‘controlling, selfish and difficult’ when they worked together last October.

She told The Mirror: ‘Amanda was all “me, me, me”. I put on a brave happy face doing the show but Amanda was very off-putting during my live appearance, kept asking questions, kept interfering and I felt she was a very controlling person.

‘Amanda is being thoroughly unprofessional in her behaviour to a fellow ITV family member…

‘Who does Amanda think she is, marching into Kevin Lygo’s office demanding answers on what she alleges that is supposed to have happened? Amanda should be “yellow-carded” and told to shut up or face getting the sack from Britain’s Got Talent.’

 Sly dig: Just this month Heart FM radio host Amanda hinted at some animosity between herself and Phillip

Just this month Heart FM radio host Amanda hinted at some animosity between herself and Phillip. When asked the three things she would least like to find in her home, she replied: ‘Spiders, flies and Phillip Schofield’.

It was reported back in November that Amanda had reportedly confronted Phillip after feeling ‘let down’ after she failed to land the This Morning presenting gig while Holly was away. 

Instead, former The Saturdays singer Rochelle, 30, landed the coveted job alongside Phillip while his regular co-host Holly took over Ant McPartlin’s hosting duties for I’m A Celeb while he took an extended break from TV. 

New role: Their feud was reignited over the weekend when Amanda reportedly claimed he blocked her from landing a hosting gig when Holly, 38, filmed I’m A Celeb last year

Big responsibility: Phillip’s co-host took over Ant McPartlin’s hosting duties for I’m A Celeb

‘Easier to manage’: Phil allegedly pushed for Rochelle Humes to take the job as a stand-in presenter

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