Phillip Schofield quits This Morning live: Holly Willoughby’s ‘him or me ultimatum’

After days of reports that Phil faced the axe from This Morning, yesterday he finally had ‘agreed to step down’ with immediate effect.

It followed the breakdown of his friendship with Holly, which is said to have begun as Phil’s brother stood trial for sexual offences against a teenage boy.

It is understood that Holly was not informed of the trial b Phil and instead found out the reason he had taken a break from the programme afterwards.

Here MailOnline looks at how the feud unfolded into a disaster over the last two weeks.

Phillip Schofield quits This Morning live: Holly Willoughby’s ‘him or me ultimatum’

Phillip Schofield described This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby as his ‘absolute rock’ last week.

But yesterday he made no mention of his close friend in his exit statement.

As he leave’s the flagship ITV daytime show, MailOnline looks at who the TV veteran will likely turn to for support, including close industry friends, his estranged wife and his  daughters.

Holly Willoughby triumphed in her feud against Phillip Schofield when ITV bosses backed her future at This Morning over his.

One source said: ‘Holly is the real winner in all of this as she has emerged victorious and classy. She has played a masterstroke.

‘The situation between the crumbling partnership became so serious that ITV bosses had to choose which horse to back — Phil or Holly. And it was clear where their loyalties lay.

‘Getting rid of Phil was never going to be easy. But producers had to think about the longevity of the show. Holly was its future and they want to keep her happy.’

Phillip Schofield believes he was ‘hung out to dry’ by This Morning bosses after he dramatically announced he was leaving the role on Instagram on Saturday, following his feud with co-host and former best friend Holly Willoughby.

The couple are said to have called a truce in a private chat with Schofield agreeing to leave the show in a deal which will ensure he gets a new solo-presenting gig and can keep discussions open about his future on other shows such as Dancing On Ice.

He issued a pointed statement on social media thanking fans for their support, but failed to mention Willoughby at all, as sources say he told friends the channel has ‘hung him out to dry’.

Phillip Schofield missed some crucial words in the sign off of his final ever show on Thursday – suggesting he knew he would be saying goodbye for the last time.

While Holly Willoughby, 42, gave viewers a cheery ‘See you Monday!’ – Phil, 61, looked resilient as he simply said: ‘Bye!’.

As his final appearance hosting This Morning ended, body language expert Judi James said: ‘Holly did begin to finger-pick, Phil kept his hands in his pockets, bounced on his heels with a gleam in his eye and a mouth-clamp.

‘He kept the lips clamped but raised his chin with the corners of his mouth pulled down for the farewell, which could be a signal of resilience.

‘Holly was the one that said ”See you Monday!” with a perky head-tilt, raising her left hand in a wave that Phil did not mirror and he just called out ”bye!”.

As Phillip Schofield announces he will be stepping down from This Morning, here are some of his most memorable moments over the last 21 years…

Phillip Schofield agreed to quit This Morning yesterday after 21 years of hosting the daytime programme.

It is said he was ousted after his co-star, Holly Willoughby, told ITV bosses she no longer wanted to work with him.

Schofield, 61 – who was understood to have fled on holiday yesterday to visit his mother in Cornwall – alluded to the feud in ITV’s statement, issued without warning at 3pm.