By Tony O’Reilly-
Eamonn Holmes, the well known Northern Irish broadcaster, 63, who co-hosted This Morning’s Friday show for 15 years from 2006 to 2021 with wife Ruth Lansford, has suggested Holly Wolloughby never returns to ITV’s primetime programme.
Willoughby has expressed disappointment over Schofield lying to her about the relationship with the young man, after forcing the former presenter out of the show due other issues she had relating to the sexual assault of a young boy committed his young brother, and for which he has now been jailed for 12 years.
ITV investigated the rumours about Schofield and the employee in early 2020, finding no “evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour”.
Holmes told Wootton: “Not only should Phillip go but Holly should follow him out the door.“I don’t think you’ll ever see Holly back on the couch again.
“It’s not about protecting the young fella involved, it’s about brand protection with her, her company, and advertising deals which looks like she’s distancing herself from to protect herself.”
Holmes comments come amid his allegation of a cover up in ITV about Schofield’s infidelity with a young runner whom he met when the lad was just 15.
Attackint ITV’s bosses for protecting Phil and Holly over the young man, he said of the company cabs from the star’s house for his lover: ‘They would have seen that and known. It’s a total cover-up.
‘Those in authority had to know. They had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge the bullet, which they did and they do constantly’.
Speaking to Dan Wootton on GB News, he was asked if this was the end of the scandals for Phil.
He said: ‘I sit and I wonder why did Phillip Schofield give a statement to the Daily Mail, that he lied. He lied to his agency, he lied to ITV, he lied to his colleagues, he lied. Why suddenly changed his tune?
‘And if you lied once you lie again. You know, my father always said you can watch a thief but you can’t watch a liar. And you don’t know what what’s fact and what’s fiction with him.
‘I think you can’t believe a word. Phillip Schofield if you think that about him, I think you’re a bit deluded’. He added: ‘Not only should Phillip go, but Holly should follow him out the door. I don’t think you’ll ever see Holly back on the couch again.’
The axed television presenter has denied any illegal activities with the boy, but the nature and scope of their relationship between the ages of 15 and when he was hired on the show at 18, remain unknown.
Schofield quit This Morning in a statement released on May 20 amid a growing feud with Willoughby.
The 61-year-old, who spent two decades at This Morning, later admitted to having an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a much younger production assistant on the programme.
Willoughby is currently on a 2 week break from the programme and there is currently no official word about whether she will quit the show.
All indications so far is that she will return to present the show she loves best.