Holly Willoughby has declared she’d quit her presenting stint on This Morning if her co-host Phillip Schofield left the daytime TV programme.
In a clip from Monday’s upcoming episode of Shopping With Keith Lemon, the ITV star, 38, admitted she couldn’t imagine fronting the show without her TV husband, 57, amid rumours of a feud between the pair.
The bubbly media personality – who has been the face of This Morning for 10 years – enthused she feels as if she’s hosting the series ‘forever’, and has been a ‘big fan’ since Phillip presented the show with Fern Britton from 1999 until 2009.
They come as a package: Holly Willoughby declared she’d quit This Morning if Phillip Schofield left the daytime TV programme in a clip from Monday’s Shopping With Keith Lemon
During a spot of retail therapy with comedian Keith, 46, Holly was quizzed on the steps she would take in her career if her friend Phillip ever decided to leave the show.
Highlighting their close bond, she shared: ‘If he left This Morning… well we’ve always said from the beginning that if either of us left then we wouldn’t want to do it as I can’t imagine This Morning without Phil, it’s us together!’
The former Surprise Surprise host later admitted it took her a while to feel confident on the show following years of feeling like ‘the new girl’, after taking the role from Fern, 62, in September 2009.
She explained: ‘I’ve been doing it for 10 years, it feels like forever! For a long time I felt like the new girl, I was a big fan of watching the show.
Stronger than ever: The ITV star, 38, admitted she couldn’t imagine fronting the show without her TV husband, 57, amid rumours of a feud between the pair (pictured together on Thursday)
Long-running stint: The bubbly media personality enthused she feels as if she’s hosting the series ‘forever’, and has been a ‘big fan’ since she was younger
‘It’s us together’: During a spot of retail therapy with comedian Keith, 46, Holly was quizzed on the steps she would take in her career if her friend Phillip ever decided to leave the show
‘Watching Phil and Ferne, they were my This Morning presenters. So when I say it feels like forever, it’s because it’s so nice!’
Injecting the episode with some of his signature humour, Holly’s Celebrity Juice co-star joked: ‘I think we’re getting too deep now and I want to get deeper but not in front of the escalator where I can hear it whilst I’m talking so let’s go somewhere else!’
On Thursday, the award-winning duo filmed their final episode of This Morning before the New Year.
The pair treated themselves to a glass of champagne as they wished their viewers a merry Christmas before giving each other a peck on the cheek.
Former co-hosts: Phillip presented the show with Fern Britton from 1999 until 2009 (pictured together in July 2009)
‘I was a big fan’: The former Surprise Surprise host later admitted it took her a while to feel confident on the show following years of feeling like ‘the new girl’ (pictured in January 2016)
Earlier this month, Phillip was accused of creating a ‘toxic atmosphere’ for his This Morning co-stars, with allegations of ongoing spats with Holly and stand-in hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes.
It is claimed eight different ITV presenters have broken their silence regarding Phillip’s attitude.
A report stated the situation behind the scenes at This Morning had become ‘toxic’ in recent months, with employees too scared to speak out publicly for fear of backlash.
An ITV source told The Sun: ‘For so long people have been silenced because they are scared for their job. If they speak out publicly about the atmosphere they fear there could be repercussions.’
Content: ‘Watching Phil and Ferne, they were my This Morning presenters. So when I say it feels like forever, it’s because it’s so nice!’, Holly gushed
Having fun: The pair appeared in great spirits as they posed for a snap during their shopping adventure
Star-studded episode: On the show, the funnyman is also set to join forces with singer Ella Eyre
Spec-tacle: He also treats himself to a spree with Strictly’s Michelle Visage, where they seem to shop for new glasses
Exciting times ahead: Christmas Shopping With Keith Lemon airs on Monday at 10pm on ITV2 (pictured with Johnny Vegas)
An insider close to Holly added: ‘It’s true there have been some issues. They’re like brothers and sisters – they have ups and downs but love each other.’
The Mail On Sunday revealed relations between Phillip, Ruth, 59, and Eamonn, 60, are said to be so bad that the couple snubbed the show’s Christmas party to avoid him.
The Friday presenters were surprisingly absent last week from the no-expense-spared dinner at a West London restaurant where 23 of their colleagues enjoyed a four-course meal and champagne.
Hitting back at the reports, a spokesperson for ITV said: ‘It’s deeply disappointing and unfair for Phillip to be the target of this sort of malicious gossip.
‘Phillip is a much respected broadcaster and colleague and this is absolutely not a description of This Morning that we recognise.
‘Holly and Phil are great friends both on and off screen and are popular among viewers and colleagues alike.’
Phil also slammed the rumours as he discussed their sibling-like relationship during last week’s Dancing On Ice launch.
Claims: Phillip has been accused of creating a ‘toxic atmosphere’ for his This Morning co-stars Holly and stand-in hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes (pictured earlier this month)
Missing: Holly shared a snap form the This Morning Christmas party on Instagram last week with regular Friday hosts Ruth, 59, and Eamonn, 60, noticeably absent
The TV star said: ‘Can you imagine a feud between us ever happening? It’s not as if we have to defend anything.
‘It’s a shame… we are so open on the show, we are so open online and we go on holiday together. Holly is the sister I never had, we think at the same speed. It’s so organic… it’s a shame.
‘Everyone who knows us, I mean, everyone at This Morning was like, “What the hell?” The atmosphere in our studio is so wonderful, there’s such a lovely team. Everyone is lovely.’
Christmas Shopping With Keith Lemon airs on Monday at 10pm on ITV2.
‘It’s a shame… she’s the sister I never had’: The TV veteran slammed the rumours as he discussed their sibling-like relationship during last week’s Dancing On Ice launch (pictured)
