Holly Willoughby will be back on the This Morning sofa on Monday with co-star Phillip Schofield for the first time in more than a month following a bout of shingles, she has revealed.
Her sick leave meant that she missed Mr Schofield’s first day following his own three-week break due to his brother’s convictions for child sex offences.
But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that behind the scenes there is a tug of war over the future of the show – specifically whether to have a reshuffle of presenting staff.
The main issue, say ITV insiders, is what to do with Mr Schofield. Some think it’s time for the 61-year-old to step back after more than two decades presenting the programme after noticing how some of its million-plus viewers appear to have grown tired of him.
As part of their strategy to listen to their audiences, ITV chiefs monitor social media to see how fans are reacting to their stars. Not only is there substantial negativity at Mr Schofield, but there are also petitions across the internet asking for the channel to get rid of him.
Their views have most certainly been exacerbated by the success of Alison Hammond, who is described by some as the ‘saviour of This Morning’ after she was promoted from its showbusiness interviewer to a main presenter 15 months ago.
Holly Willoughby will be back on the This Morning sofa tomorrow with co-star Phillip Schofield for the first time in more than a month
Their views have most certainly been exacerbated by the success of Alison Hammond
It has put an idea into the heads of ITV chiefs – to bring a bit of ‘girl power’ to the show.
One source said: ‘It’s a case of both things colliding. Fans say they are over Phil and they love Alison.’
Undeniably, Mr Schofield has his loyalists at the channel – most in the upper echelons. He is also signed to the powerful YMU talent agency which is said to have significant power over ITV.
This Morning’s editor Martin Frizell is perhaps one of his most staunch supporters and is said to have ‘taken several bullets’ for Mr Schofield in recent years.
But increasingly, Ms Hammond is becoming more and more powerful – particularly as other channels are trying to steal her.
Last month she was unveiled as the new host of The Great British Bake Off, something which ‘blindsided’ ITV chiefs.
Ms Willoughby, 42, is also said to ‘adore’ Ms Hammond, while ITV bosses are falling over themselves to show her love – despite some as good as ignoring her for many years, having once dismissed her as the bubbly showbiz girl.
Even Mr Frizell must be conflicted as it was his idea to appoint a black presenter, specifically Ms Hammond, 48.
Undeniably, Mr Schofield has his loyalists at the channel – most in the upper echelons. He is also signed to the powerful YMU talent agency
If Mr Schofield were to depart, it would see an end to one of the most famous partnerships on television – ‘Holly and Phil’ or ‘Phil and Holly’ which he is said to prefer.
They were once inseparable, sharing their off-air escapades live on air, or on their social media. Ms Willoughby’s most recent Instagram post about her co-star was promotional material for Dancing On Ice, which they host together.
Some staff at ITV were – perhaps unfairly – sceptical of Ms Willoughby’s illness last week, which they say was ‘perfect timing’ for her not to have to sit next to Mr Schofield when he thanked fans for their support over his painful ordeal at his brother’s convictions.
However, sources close to Ms Willoughby insist she struggled to shake off the illness until last Friday so there was no way she could have starred on This Morning.
Meanwhile, she has forged a close friendship with Ms Hammond. Not only was she at her birthday party in March (from which Mr Schofield was notably absent), Ms Willoughby has also introduced Ms Hammond to her ‘girl gang’, which includes former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and All Saints singer Nicole Appleton.
Last month, when Mr Schofield took leave while his brother Timothy was on trial, she joined Ms Willoughby for two days, which ITV bosses saw as a ‘massive triumph’
Another problem This Morning bosses are facing is losing Josie Gibson, 38, the hugely popular former Big Brother star who is a stand-in presenter, usually paired with Craig Doyle.
She is understood to be getting frustrated at not getting enough air time and is considering her options elsewhere.
That could get uncomfortable because one of her agents is Maddy Lygo, the daughter of ITV’s Director of Television, Kevin Lygo.
Some of the show’s employees have questioned why Ms Hammond didn’t stand in for Ms Willoughby, at least for some of the four-day stint last week.
Last month, when Mr Schofield took leave while his brother Timothy was on trial, she joined Ms Willoughby for two days, which ITV bosses saw as a ‘massive triumph’.
Instead Mr Schofield was flanked by Rochelle Humes, 34, the singer-turned-presenter who he insisted covered for Ms Willoughby instead of Amanda Holden while she hosted I’m A Celeb back in 2018.
He is thought to favour Ms Humes, perhaps regarding her as more malleable, unlike his other forthright female television partners, including Fern Britton and Ms Holden.
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