During today’s episode of This Morning, the departure of Phillip Schofield was addressed by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, both visibly emotional. This comes just days after Schofield announced his decision to step down from the show after being part of it for 21 years.
On May 20, the surprising news broke as Phillip revealed his departure in an Instagram statement. He expressed his pride in covering compelling stories on This Morning but acknowledged that the show itself had become the focal point.
Phillip emphasized his commitment to integrity and kindness throughout his television career, including the challenging past few days. Recognizing that ITV has determined the current situation is unsustainable, he agreed to step down immediately to safeguard the future of the beloved show.
Phillip thanked his supporters, particularly the incredible viewers of This Morning, and mentioned his upcoming appearance at the Soap Awards.
The somber tone was set at the beginning of today’s episode as Alison and Dermot addressed Phillip’s exit and paid tribute to his contribution. Dermot, welcoming the audience, acknowledged that Phillip had spent the last two decades on the This Morning sofa, establishing himself as one of the country’s finest live television broadcasters.
Alison, visibly moved, added her own tribute to Phillip, emphasizing his exceptional talent. The show displayed pictures of Phillip on the set of This Morning.
Dermot continued by expressing gratitude on behalf of the entire show and ITV, recognizing Phillip’s instrumental role in making the program special and successful for the past 21 years. Alison echoed the sentiment, highlighting Phillip as one of the most accomplished live television broadcasters in the country and extending best wishes for his future endeavors.
They also mentioned that Holly will be returning on Monday, June 5. Viewers took to Twitter to share their reactions, with some observing Alison’s emotional state during the tribute.
Overall, the focus of today’s episode was on acknowledging Phillip Schofield’s departure from This Morning and expressing appreciation for his remarkable contributions to the show.
