Phillip Schofield has been accused of being vindictive towards Holly Willoughby in a text message sent shortly before he resigned from This Morning last year. In the message, Schofield blamed Willoughby for not publicly supporting him after their fall out, which ultimately led to his decision to step down from the show. This accusation has reignited their feud, which began the previous spring. The fall out between the two was also reportedly due to Willoughby being unaware of the full extent of Schofield’s brother Timothy’s crimes, for which he was convicted of multiple sexual offenses. Despite the accusations made by Schofield, friends of Willoughby maintain that it was his own actions that led to his downfall, as he had previously lied about an affair with a younger colleague.
After rumors of a rift between Schofield and Willoughby surfaced last May, Schofield made a public statement acknowledging their friendship but also hinted at some difficulties between them. This public statement left Willoughby feeling blindsided, as she was unaware of any issues in their relationship. Schofield stood down from This Morning shortly after the statement, citing that the current situation could not continue. While he initially stepped down from the show, he was later due to present the Soap Awards for ITV before ultimately quitting due to admitting an affair with a colleague.
During his comeback show on Channel 5, Schofield took aim at three former ITV colleagues, one of which is believed to be Willoughby, whom he now reportedly refers to as ‘the witch’. Sources have claimed that Schofield believes Willoughby, along with former ITV bosses, orchestrated his dismissal from the network after his brother’s conviction. Despite allegations that Willoughby knew about Schofield’s brother’s crimes and supported him during the trial, there is controversy surrounding her alleged distancing from the situation when it became potentially damaging to her image. Willoughby’s representatives have declined to comment on the matter.
The fallout between Schofield and Willoughby has caused tensions within the entertainment industry, with both parties being accused of various betrayals. While Schofield continues to blame his former colleagues for his departure from ITV, including his strained relationship with Willoughby, the full extent of the situation remains unclear. The accusations made by Schofield in his text message to Willoughby have sparked a renewed interest in their feud, providing further insight into the complexities of their relationship and the circumstances surrounding Schofield’s resignation from This Morning. Ultimately, the fallout between the two presents a cautionary tale of the challenges and conflicts that can arise in the entertainment industry.
