Holly Willoughby goes to ground after Phil Schofield scandal amid claims This Morning bosses knew of star’s ‘deceit’

HOLLY Willoughby has gone to ground after the Phillip Schofield scandal amid claims This Morning bosses knew of the star's "deceit".

The TV presenter, 42, has been MIA since her former colleague left the sofa and admitted having an affair with a much younger male while still married.

Schofield, 61, sensationally quit ITV on Friday just six days after announcing his departure from the daytime show.

It comes after the "consensual on-off relationship" with a teenager employee - who also worked for the television network - was revealed.

Holly hasn't been seen publicly since May 18 when she last appeared on This Morning before taking a break for the half term.

Last Wednesday, she exited the once-much loved show, kissing Schofield goodbye, to head to meet King Charles at a Princes' Trust event.

It comes as:

• ITV denies knowing Schofield had a younger lover
• could get the axe
• Eamonn Holmes speaks out before launching another attack on Schofield
• Schofield apologises to his wife Stephanie Lowe
• Schofield resigns from ITV and stepped down from presenting the British Soap Awards
• ITV breaks its silence on Schofield's "deceit"

Normally posting daily on social media, Holly also hasn't shared any pics on her account since last week.

Despite trying to stay hidden and out of the limelight, she appeared full of smiles on her lifestyle brand Wylde Moon's Instagram page yesterday holding a platter of food.

The post came shortly before Schofield's bombshell revelation.

In a statement the TV star said: ";I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague.

"Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.

"That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.

"When I chose to come out I did so entirely for my own wellbeing. Nobody 'forced' me out.

"Neither I nor anyone else, to my knowledge, has ever issued an injunction, super or otherwise, about my relationship with this colleague, he was never moved on or sacked by or because of me.

"In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven't been truthful about the relationship.

"But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now.

"I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family.

"I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.

"I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.

"I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.

"To protect his privacy, I am not naming this individual and my deepest wish is that both he and his family can now move on with their lives free from further intrusion, and that this statement will enable them to do so.

"I ask the media now to respect their privacy. They have done nothing wrong, and I ask that their privacy should be respected."

Schofield opened up about being gay in 2020, but remained married to wife Stephanie.

I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it

Phillip Schofield

Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes launched a fresh scathing attack on Schofield yesterday - claiming he and co-presenter wife Ruth had been misled by their long-time colleague.

Posting on Twitter, Eamonn said: "Ruth and I [were] deceived and lied to. One day I will tell the story.

"We had no issue with him being gay, only support. What transpired took us for fools.

"The man told us complete lies and we unfortunately believed him."

ITV issued a blistering statement today branding the veteran TV presenter a "liar".

 A spokesman said: "ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.

"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.

"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.

"Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."

Schofield's departure came while him and Holly were on a break from the show.

Sharing an Instagram story on May 20, Holly said: "Hi everyone, it's been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.

"The sofa won't feel the same without him."

Bosses had decided the situation was unworkable following clear on-screen tension between them which led to the show shedding 170,000 viewers.

Meanwhile another insider revealed that some celebrity and political guests was requesting to appear on Fridays with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary rather than Holly and Phil.

They said: "Senior producers could no longer ignore this and it was becoming a real problem.”

We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield

ITV Spokesperson

Staff had been told to prepare for a June 6 meeting with ITV’s head of daytime Emma Gormley at which a big announcement was due.

But it seems the axe was wielded quicker.

A TV source said: “The tense atmosphere backstage has been completely unworkable and toxic so bosses had to step in and make a decision for the sake of the cast, crew and future of the show.

"Phil was fully planning on seeing out his contract with a stoic, 'grin-and-bear-it attitude' and thought he could navigate the rough waters.

“But bosses were worried they might lose their golden girl Holly so decided to pull the plug on Phil. He was devastated.

“Crew were none the wiser when they left work on Friday afternoon and were fully expecting to see Phil turn up to work on Monday.

“It has felt like the writing was on the wall for some time, but neither he nor many show staff were expecting ITV’s knee-jerk reaction.

“Producers have compiled an emergency team of fill-in hosts from their presenting roster to keep the show afloat for the next week.

"But no decisions have been made about who will sit alongside Holly for the long-term.”

Rumours of a feud between the best pals started when Schofield's brother Tim was outed as a paedo.

However, the rift between them began three years ago — when Holly went to war with her and Schofield’s agents YMU Group, The Sun revealed.

A source said: “Holly quietly started to distance herself from Phil back in 2020.

“She created her own female-led agency for a reason — and that was to champion women.

“The legal issues rumbled on for 18 months but Holly fought for what was right.

“Ultimately, Phil chose to stay and Holly chose to leave, it wasn’t easy at the time.”

Schofield has since been dropped by the agency following the shocking affair.

They said in a statement: "Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do.

"Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.

"This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield."