Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary pay tribute to Phillip Schofield on This Morning | Ents & Arts News

Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have paid tribute to Phillip Schofield on This Morning right now, the primary present since his departure after greater than 20 years.

Opening the programme on Monday, Hammond mentioned they may not begin with out mentioning the veteran presenter, who announced his exit at the weekend.

O’Leary added: “Everybody on and off display screen at ITV and This Morning need to say an enormous thanks to Phil for what he is finished to make the present so successful during the last 21 years.”

Hammond continued: “Fairly merely, everyone knows he is top-of-the-line reside tv broadcasters this nation has ever had, and we and all of the workforce want him all the perfect for the longer term.”

Schofield, who joined the present in 2002, mentioned on Saturday that he was stepping back as a result of the programme had “turn out to be the story” and “I need to do what I can to guard the present I really like”.

It got here following experiences that his relationship with long-term co-presenter Holly Willoughby, who will stay on the present however is presently taking early half-term go away, had come beneath pressure.

Hammond, 48, and O’Leary, 49, already host the present each Friday and are frontrunners to exchange Schofield – with ITV but to announce who will completely get the function.

Different contenders embody The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes and her husband, JLS star Marvin Humes, in addition to acquainted This Morning regulars equivalent to Rylan Clark, Josie Gibson and Gino D’Acampo.

What did Schofield say?

Schofield, 61, introduced his exit on the weekend after presenting what turned out to be his ultimate present on Thursday.

“I’ve all the time been proud to cowl fascinating tales on This Morning,” he mentioned in his assertion. “However lately, This Morning itself has turn out to be the story.

“All through my profession in TV – together with the very tough final days – I’ve all the time finished my greatest to be honourable and type.

“I perceive that ITV has determined the present state of affairs cannot go on, and I need to do what I can to guard the present that I really like.”

Learn extra:
Phillip Schofield leaves This Morning: His statement in full
Phil and Holly: A timeline of their relationship

Shortly afterwards, Willoughby shared her personal assertion, saying: “It has been over 13 nice years presenting This Morning with Phil and I need to take this chance to thank him for all of his information, his expertise and his humour.

“This couch will not really feel the identical with out him.”

Willoughby is about to be again within the studio from Monday 5 June.

Beforehand, the pair have been open about their shut friendship over time, together with sharing footage on social media of joint holidays with their households.

ITV to proceed work with Schofield

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s managing director of media and leisure, has mentioned that ITV will proceed its relationship with Schofield, regardless of his This Morning departure, “beginning with The British Cleaning soap Awards in June and a model new peak time collection to return”.

Schofield has confronted a tough few months, together with his brother’s intercourse abuse trial, and criticism over his visit to the late Queen’s lying in state, in addition to his reported rift with Willoughby.

Former civilian police employee Timothy Schofield, 54, was jailed for 12 years on Friday after being convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a baby between October 2016 and October 2019, together with two of sexual exercise with a baby.