They were absent from This Morning for almost two months over the summer as they took their annual holiday. But Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were back on the famous sofa at the beginning of this month, cementing their return to the daytime show with a Mary Poppins-inspired entrance and a heartfelt hug.
During the duo’s break, a string of familiar faces – including Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, Vernon Kay and Rochelle Humes, and Ruth Langsford and Rylan Clark – stepped up to the hosting gig and proved popular among loyal ITV viewers, with some even calling for various pairings to remain a permanent fixture. “Get Rylan and Ruth back,” a fan tweeted on Holly and Phil’s return, “they were much more entertaining.”
And insiders say that Holly, 41, and Phil, 60, have been wary about the popularity of their counterparts and have vowed to come back and remind the nation why they love them – something they hope will have been achieved by their coverage of the Queen’s death in a two-hour This Morning special last week.
“Holly and Phil loved their time off and were impressed with all the holiday cover, but now they’re back they want to show they’re the best of the best. There are always some nerves coming back after the summer break and especially this time, it seems as though the producers have been keen to try out new faces and show that there will always be eager presenters waiting in the wings – and it’s only made Phil and Holly want to come back with a bang,” an insider tells Closer.
“They’ve felt strange while being off recently, as everyone keeps talking about how there are so many great presenters out there who have stood in for them, whether it’s Josie or Mollie [King]. It seemed as though, suddenly, they could be more replaceable. TV insiders believe they definitely wouldn’t give up top positions without a fight after so many years at the top. Holly in particular wouldn’t just let it go – it means too much to her.”
Following the news of the Queen’s death earlier this month, TV schedules were dominated by royal coverage, and Phil and Holly were among those who stepped up to the mark. During the commemorative This Morning feature, the presenters were joined by a myriad of guests, including Coronation Street star William Roache, who spoke of his experience of meeting the late monarch. Holly was visibly emotional discussing Prince Harry’s tribute to his “Granny” and detailed how her children – Harry, 13, Belle, 11, and Chester, seven – wrote sweet letters to the Queen.
And Closer’s source says this time has been positive for Holly and Phil’s career, saying, “They have really felt confident getting stuck in, being involved in conversations with producers and bringing their own ideas to the table on how to capture the mood of the nation as everyone mourns the Queen. They both take their roles incredibly seriously and they are glad to be back at a time when the ship needs steering in the right direction, and don’t feel as though their stand-ins could do the same when it comes to big events like this.”
Holly and Phil’s long-reining success can be gauged by their booming bank accounts and the 11 NTAs that This Morning has scooped while they’ve been at the helm. The pair – who also co-host Dancing On Ice – made the most recent top-10 list of the highest-paid presenters across ITV and BBC, with their yearly contracts on This Morning thought to be worth more than £600,000.
The dynamic between the TV veterans is just as strong off-screen. The best friends have holidayed together and supported each other during various milestones, such as when Phillip came out as gay – which he did live on air, breaking down in Holly’s arms – and the launch of Holly’s Wylde Moon brand.
And insiders add that the pair are determined to remain TV’s favourite duo, and that their solid friendship helps them stand out against others.
The source says, “They feel like they are in a strong position now to really do what they do best – bringing their unmatched chemistry to the viewers, handling interviews and topics sensitively when needed, and being there for the public in their living rooms when the nation needs comforting.
“They want to restore their image as TV’s golden couple and there couldn’t be a more challenging time for them to do it, as the country tunes in to see coverage of the Queen’s passing. Both Holly and Phil are a steady hand, and they’re stronger when they’re together as a unit. They have an unshakable bond and right now they just want to do what they do best.”