Holly Willoughby never wants to speak to Phillip Schofield again after hearing him call her “The Witch.”
The presenter, 43, ruled out any reconciliation with her former best friend, 62, who allegedly messaged her on WhatsApp the day before news of her axing on This Morning became public, claiming she had “felled”.
Tensions between the pair reached greater heights when Phil boldly declared there was ‘three s***’ at ITV on his Channel 5 show Cast Away last week.
Phil has also severed further ties within the TV industry, as Holly’s husband Dan Baldwin, co-owner of production company Hungry Bear, responsible for shows such as Gladiators and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, is “furious” with Phil.
A source told MailOnline: “Holly and Phil’s friendship is really over, there’s no way she’ll talk to him again after this.”
Holly Willoughby never wants to speak to Phillip Schofield again after hearing him call her ‘The Witch’
The presenter, 43, ruled out any reconciliation with her former best friend, 62, who returned to television with her program Náufrago last week.
Holly’s husband Dan Baldwin is also furious with Phil (pictured in September).
‘Dan, Holly’s television producer husband, is also furious at Phil’s behavior towards her.
“From rumors that he refers to her as ‘the Witch’ in messages with friends to his scathing jibe about the ‘three s***ts in showbiz’ on his Channel 5 show Cast Away, Dan really already “he’s had enough.”
MailOnline has contacted Holly’s representatives for comment.
Phillip left This Morning last May after months of speculation about a breakdown in his relationship with Holly.
She then admitted to having an affair with a junior colleague and left ITV entirely.
The pair used to be best friends, and their families even took annual holidays together, but the bitter feud appears to have been rekindled and Phillip now refers to his once close friend as “the witch”.
Phillip is said to have told Holly that she “knocked him down” before he quit This Morning.
He daily mirror reported that Schofield sent the accusation in a WhatsApp message and said he should have supported him publicly after their fight.
Phillip left This Morning last May after months of speculation about a breakdown in his relationship with Holly.
He then blamed her for not doing so, saying it led to his retirement after 21 years on the ITV show.
Phillip, who returned to TV last week on Channel 5’s Cast Away, had asked her for a public show of support, such as a statement or a photo together, in the hope it would stop accusations that they had fallen out.
After sending the WhatsApp, Holly allegedly responded that she didn’t know what was going on.
But Phillip’s friends say he was so upset he reported Holly to two senior ITV bosses. MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
A source told The Mirror: “Phillip considered her a friend, his TV sister as he called her, and always supported her, even recommending she go to the jungle. Her lack of public support was a low blow in his eyes. .
Phillip and his management were also said to be deeply suspicious of his PR team and unhappy that they were not correcting the “false narratives that were running rampant.”
Another factor in their fight was said to be that Holly was unaware of the full details of her pedophile brother Timothy’s crimes.
Phillip’s brother, 54, was convicted in April 2023 of 11 sexual offenses involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child.
While she and ITV were aware of an upcoming trial last March, it is understood Schofield did not tell her the full extent of it.
One showbiz insider said: “You can see what Phil is doing, he’s angry and he’s taking advantage of his moment in the spotlight, slinging more mud while people are interested in him.”
‘Phil’s career ended because he lied, he quit ITV when he lied about having an affair with a much younger colleague. Saying this is Holly’s fault is just ridiculous. Talk about blaming the woman.
Holly’s friends point out the fact that she was left completely justified in her fight with Schofield after it emerged that she had lied about her relationship with a younger colleague.
Holly said last year that he had been dishonest with her about the matter, as he had also been dishonest with ITV, his agent YMU and her family. He also lied to the Mail about it and admitted the truth in a statement he made to us last May.
“Phil is a self-confessed and proven liar, so the things he says should be taken with a pinch of salt,” said a source: “He lied to his colleagues, to his employers and to the media, let’s not forget.”
In the show, Schofield appears to blame his dramatic fall from grace on a trio of his former ITV colleagues, saying: “I think there’s only three s–ts (in showbiz).
Elsewhere, the identity of Phil’s ‘three sh*ts’ has allegedly been revealed as Holly and former ITV bosses Martin Frizell (left) and Emma Gormley (right).
Sources have alleged that Phil now refers to his once close friend Holly as ‘the witch’ and reportedly uses a witch in a hat emoji when talking about her to friends.
Following rumors that they had fallen out last May, Phillip left Holly devastated when he made a public statement to discuss their friendship.
He said: ‘The last few weeks have not been easy for any of us. Like I said before, Holly is my rock.
‘We are best friends; As always, she is incredibly supportive 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.
Friends of Holly said at the time that her outburst had “surprised” her.
Phillip retired from This Morning days later on 20 May.
He said in a statement: “I understand that ITV has decided that the current situation cannot continue and I want to do everything I can to protect the show I love.”
“So I have agreed to leave This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward into a bright future.”
Although he left This Morning, he was due to present the Soap Awards a week later for ITV and network bosses had given him a new prime-time show.
He later resigned after admitting an affair with his colleague.
Elsewhere, the identity of Phil’s ‘three sh*ts’ has allegedly been revealed as Holly and his former ITV bosses Martin Frizell and Emma Gormley.
During Phil’s comeback show Cast Away, which aired on Channel 5 last week, the TV star took point to those ‘who betrayed him’ 16 months ago when he left ITV’s This Morning.
In the show, Schofield appears to blame his dramatic fall from grace on a trio of his former ITV colleagues, saying: “I think there’s only three s–ts (in showbiz).”
He noted that one was a “coward who never stepped forward at Queuegate,” while another “is a coward because they never stepped forward when I was being mistreated.”
He stated that the third “is just brand-oriented,” adding: “It’s not what you expect, it’s not what you think you’re going to get.”
The Sun has now reported that Phil believes Holly and her This Morning boss Martin staged an “organized coup” to sack him after the jailing of his pedophile brother Timothy.
Sources have alleged that Phil refers to his once close friend Holly as ‘the witch’ and reportedly uses a witch emoji when talking about her to friends.
A friend said: ‘Phil believes Holly, Martin and Emma were the reason he was kicked out of ITV and believes he was treated unfairly.
Insiders also claim Phil begged Martin not to send him and Holly to see the Queen’s coffin for his ITV show, which backfired with the notorious “tail door” backlash.
Holly’s representatives declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline for comment. ITV has been contacted for comment.