Amanda Holden appears to share dig at Schofield’s exit from This Morning – live

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

In a short statement after Mr Schofield announced his departure, Ms 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.”

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:

Amanda Holden fans think the Britain’s Got Talent judge just took a swipe at Phillip Schofield, following his dramatic exit from ITV show This Morning.

Just minutes after Schofield announced he was leaving the show “with immediate effect”, Holden posted a picture of the “triumphant” emoji, showing an arm flexing its muscles, to her Instagram account.

Holden has previously appeared to express her dislike for Schofield, apparently blaming him for scuppering her chances of hosting This Morning while Willoughby was presenting I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in Australia.

Schofield said that any claim he played a role in Holden missing out on the gig as “malicious gossip”.

Holden previously took a swipe at Schofield after the infamous queuegate scandal, making a sly “get in line” dig while praising David Beckham for queueing for hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.

Holly Willoughby will take a break from presenting This Morning before she returns to take over the programme as its sole full-time host, ITV has said.

Metro.co.uk reports that ITV has confirmed Willoughby will return to the show on Monday 5 June, having taken an early half-term holiday that will begin on Monday 22 May.

ITV is expected to announce who will host the programme in the interim in due course.

The news comes after Willoughby shared a brief statement to her Instagram Story acknowledging Schofield’s departure. Schofield did not mention his former co-host in his own statement announcing that he was leaving the show with “immediate effect”.

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:

Everyone needs a “work spouse”.

You start out as friends but pretty soon you are sharing pointed looks, finishing each other’s sandwiches and are, from the moment you walk through that office door in the morning, joined at the hip.

Read more from Katie Edwards here:

Last saturday (13 May), Phillip Schofield issued an unprecedented statement in which he admitted “the last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”

At the time, he continued to insist that Holly Willoughby was his “rock”.

You can read more about the state of play just one week ago here:

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

Earlier this week, it was reported that the This Morning co-hosts’ relationship is strained, and that they “barely speak” off camera.

Schofield acknowledged that “the last few weeks haven’t been easy”, but was initially keen to pour water on the claims, stating: “We’re the best of friends – as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone. Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her.”

Read everything we know about the pair’s rift’:

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, Ms 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.”

Kelly is the host of daily talk show Lorraine, which airs before This Morning on weekdays on ITV.

Speaking to The Sun earlier this week, Kelly alluded to recent reports of behind-the-scenes “tension” between Willoughby, 42, and co-presenter Schofield, 61.

“Do you know what? They were back today and it was business as usual and everyone is just getting on with it,” she said.

Kelly is also quoted as saying it is “unlikely” that either This Morning presenter will leave the show.