PHILLIP Schofield’s former This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby is “saddened” to hear he has been suffering with his mental health after leaving the show, sources say.
The pair had worked together on the programme for 13 years, but she will return to screens without him on Monday after taking a two-week half term break.
Phillip talked of the pain his affair with a much younger ITV runner has caused, in an exclusive interview with The Sun.
And our source said: “Holly has not spoken to Phil, but was saddened to see him like that.
“Seeing Phil so downtrodden and in a bad way was distressing for a number of people who know him personally.
“There is a big team on This Morning and it was shocking for people to see him that way.
“It is an incredibly sad situation. Phil has his daughters and friends supporting him now.
“The focus for the This Morning team and Holly is to deliver the best shows they can, moving forward.
“It is what Phil wants too — he has made that clear. He loves This Morning and wants it to thrive again, despite his exit.”
Holly will be joined on the sofa by Josie Gibson when she resumes her role on Monday.
It is believed Holly will be working with a number of different presenters in the coming weeks.
She will remain on air until the summer holidays, when she will take another planned extended break until September.
She posted a fresh faced picture on her wellness brand Wylde Moon’s Instagram feed on Thursday — the first time she had shared a selfie online since Phil’s statement.
Holly spoke of her sadness over Phillip’s deceit in a public statement after he came clean.
She said: “It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.
“It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”
Holly is spending time with her sister and her young family in Portugal.
Phil spoke of his sadness over the breakdown of their relationship over the past few weeks, but said he understood why Holly had chosen to step away from their friendship.
He confirmed The Sun’s revelation about the pair no longer speaking, and said Holly had not replied to a message he sent apologising to her before his affair revelation was made public.
Phil said: “I’ve lost my best friend. Holly did not know (about the affair). And she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say, ‘I am so, so sorry that I lied to you’.
“She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply, as well. So yeah, if anyone is in any way linking Holly to this, that is absolutely, wholly untrue.
“I had no feud with Holly. She’s my TV sister. But quite rightly, when I am in the middle of a s*** show with bad press over something where I have nothing wrong — in fact I did everything right — it’s a witch hunt. And that strips that (friendship) away.
“Quite rightly she is going to take a step back.”
Ex-Love Island presenter Caroline Flack’s mum Christine last night said she felt ITV had not treated Phil correctly.
Speaking about whether ITV had learned lessons following Caroline’s death in February 2020, she said: “They haven’t learned anything.
“They treat them as commodities. They’re not commodities, they’re people.
“They’re just sidelined, and they’re not protected.”
How he lost telly career in 22 days
HOW star’s life has fallen apart in 22 days . . .
MAY 11: We reveal Phil and Holly are not speaking off-screen on This Morning.
MAY 12: Phil issues statement to The Sun confirming it and says: “It has not been easy for me or Holly.”
MAY 13: The Sun reveals the tense phone call between the two presenters as their rift becomes public.
MAY 15: He calls in lawyers to protect his reputation.
MAY 17: This Morning bosses plan huge shake-up.
MAY 21: ITV axe Phil as he is asked to step down.
MAY 22: Pals tell The Sun Phil is “completely broken” after being forced to leave.
MAY 27: Phil issues a statement about his affair as The Sun tells of his fans and colleagues’ fury.
MAY 28: Friends tell The Sun of Holly’s upset over Phil’s betrayal.
MAY 29: Sponsors desert ITV over the scandal.
MAY 31: Holly confirms she will be back on This Morning from Monday despite calls for her to step down.
JUNE 2: Phil’s bombshell first interview to The Sun and apology for his lies.
