Piers Morgan responds to rumour he could join Holly Willoughby on This Morning – live

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.

Holly Willoughby has thanked her outgoing co-star for “13 great years presenting” after he announced he was leaving ITV’s This Morning show with immediate effect following a reported feud between the pair.

In a short statement after Schofield announced his departure, Willoughby thanked her former colleague for “all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour”.

She added: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”

Holly Willoughby gave ITV an ultimatum before the departure of her long-term presenting partner Phillip Schofield, a new report claims.

Presenter allegedly said it was ‘her or Phil’

After more than a decade of presenting ITV’s flagship morning show together, Phillip Schofield’s onscreen partnership with Holly Willoughby has ended with the news that he is leaving the show.

Reacting to the news after weeks of speculation that all was not well between the pair, Willoughby said: “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.”

ITV bosses were reportedly unhappy with Phillip Schofield’s extroardinary statement addressing rumours of an ongoing feud with his now-former This Morning co-host, Holly Willoughby.

Here’s a reminder of what he said at the time:

‘The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us,’ Schofield admitted

Among the celebrities rumoured to be taking over for Phillip Schofield is former Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan.

Morgan, however, was quick to shut down the rumours on Instagram, writing: “Thanks to everyone suggesting I might replace Phillip Schofield as Holly Willoughby’s Scotland-host at This Morning in a Lazarus-like comeback to ITV.

“Unfortunately, there’s just one problem: I still don’t believe a single word Meghan Markle says!”

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