Phillip Schofield’s goodbye shows he was loathed as Holly branded as ‘ruthless operator’ | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

On Saturday, May 20 Phillip Schofield revealed he would be stepping down from his role as presenter on ITV’s This Morning.

His departure came after weeks of speculation he and co-star Holly Willoughby were “feuding” off-screen, with their close friendship breaking down.

Before his exit, GB News presenter Dan Wootton was very vocal about his opinion of Phillip Schofield and once again spoke about his dislike for the presenter on Monday evening.

He was joined by journalist Petronella Wyatt who touched on the simple tribute which Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary gave Phillip during the opening of This Morning on Monday, May 22.

Dan asked: “Why has no one come out to defend him today? Why did he only get three stills in a 30-second tribute after 20 years on the sofa?”

READ MORE: Dermot ‘uncomfortable’ as Alison ‘prepared’ to take over from Phil

Petronella claimed: “Well it wasn’t much of a tribute, there have been much warmer tributes to dictators but I have known a lot of broadcasters.

“And Phillip Schofield is exceptional in that I have never heard a good thing about him, only bad things about the way he treats people.

“I do think that is important if you’re a broadcaster and you’re the face or part of the face of a show like This Morning.

“I honestly don’t think his conduct has been professional because there are a lot of things he was concealing from his bosses and the public.”

She went on to talk about the way Holly has responded to the recent drama and added: “I do think that she has painted herself as the nation’s sweetheart and a modern-day Doris Day.

“But she is actually a very ruthless operator who won’t stand by other people if it means she becomes slightly tainted herself and she owes a lot, I mean whatever we think of him Phillip Schofield, she was nothing when she started with him, he taught her everything.

“The other thing is the public has not forgotten that both of them skipped the queue to see the Queen lying in state, nobody forced Holly to do it, Phillip Schofield didn’t force her to do it, I think they are both almost identical.

“I don’t like either of them and I think that she has now become the story, she hasn’t covered herself in glory and I would be quite happy if she moved on as well.”

Opening Monday’s This Morning, Dermot began: “Welcome to Monday’s This Morning,” before Alison continued: “Now we can’t start today’s show without paying tribute to the man who’s spent the last two decades sitting on This Morning’s sofa, Phillip Schofield.”

Dermot added: “So, as a show, everyone on and off screen at ITV and This Morning want to say a huge thank you to Phil for what he has done to make the show such a success over the last 21 years.”

“Quite simply, we all know he is one of the best live broadcasters this country has ever had. We and all of the team wish him all the best for the future,” Alison concluded.

Dan Wootton Tonight airs Monday-Thursday from 9pm on GB News.