Phillip Schofield scandal – live updates: Who is hosting This Morning today as Holly Willoughby statement issued

Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary led a tribute to former This Morning host Phillip Schofield on Monday’s episode (22 May).

Acknowledging his decision to quit the show, Hammond said: “We can’t start without paying tribute to the man who spent the last two decades sitting on the This Morning sofa, Phillip Schofield.

“The show, everyone on and off-screen at ITV and This Morning want to say a huge thank you to Phil for what he’s done to make the show such a success over the last 21 years.

“Quite simply, we all know he’s one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had. And we and all the team wish him all the best for the future.”

O’Leary then clarified that Willoughby, who most frequently hosted with Schofield, was currently on a break ahead of the school half-term and would return to the show on Monday 5 June.

His last time presenting the ITV programme was on Thursday 18 May, bringing his presenting role of 21 years to a sudden close.

Here’s what we know about the rumoured fallout between Schofield and Willoughby:

A timeline of the duo’s ups and downs as Schofield announces he is leaving ‘This Morning’ with ‘immediate effect’

Schofield also co-hosts Dancing on Ice with Willoughby. However, a new series set to air in January 2024 is not currently in production, with ITV telling The Independent it would be making “further announcements” about the series, as well as Schofield’s involvement, “in due course”.

It remains to be seen whether he will unite with Holly Willoughby on competition series

Mere days after Phillip Schofield’s exit from This Morning, speculation of who can replace him has been rife.

Here is Ellie Harrison’s look at who might be in the running to fill his shoes:

As the first episode of This Morning since Phillip Schofield’s immediate departure, Monday’s instalment had viewers keenly watching to see how it would be handled.

Notably, lead co-host Holly Willoughby was not present to comment on Schofield’s exit in person.

Instead, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary led the show, making a rare appearance outside of their usual Friday hosting gig.

They explained that Willoughby will return to screens on Monday 5 June and was currently taking a break ahead of the school half-term schedule.

Since the news of Phillip Schofield’s This Morning departure broke, some have wondered how much the end of this gig will affect the presenter’s bank balance.

It was reported that Holly Willoughby only started receiving equal pay with Schofield in 2017, moving from an annual salary of approximately £600,000 to £700,000.

Jacob Stolworthy reports:

Since Phillip Schofield quit This Morning “with immediate effect”, his final episode was on Thursday 18 May.

Here’s how he signed off the show:

Though news of Phillip Schofield’s resignation rocked the headlines when it broke on Saturday (20 May), not everyone was surprised by the host’s departure.

Detailing a series of career rough spots, Clare Morrison explains: “Unlike many celebrity falls from grace, Schofield’s has been much slower, and much less certain. It almost feels overzealous to even call it a fall from grace; his is more of a tarnished reputation that, despite the best polish, has some spotting and staining that may be irreparable.”

Here’s the piece in full: