By Charlie Herbert
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have paid tribute to Phillip Schofield on This Morning, in the first show since his sudden departure.
Alison described him as “one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had” and added that “we and all the team wish him all the best for the future.”
Dermot then explained that Holly Willoughby would be “taking a break over half term” and will be back in the This Morning studio on Monday June 5.
Schofield said he was leaving with “immediate effect” from the show he joined in 2002, as ITV had decided “the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love”.
A source told The Sun the payout hasn’t soften the blow of having to leave his job: “Phil feels he has been shown zero respect and he is devastated by how this has played out.”
The source continued: “He thinks the way he was forced to step down was so unjust and he feels completely broken by how this situation has been handled. This Morning was Phil’s life and now he feels he has been knifed without proper consultation.”
The insider said Phil had “dedicated” 20 years to This Morning, so leaving in this was “has been incredibly upsetting”.
