The tribute lasted just 35 seconds.
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have paid tribute to Phillip Schofield on This Morning, in the first show since his sudden departure.
“We can’t start today’s show without paying tribute to the man who spent the last two decades sitting on the This Morning sofa,” Hammond said.
“As a show, everyone on an off-screen at ITV and This Morning want to say a huge thank you to Phil for everything he has done over the last 21 years,” Dermot added.
Alison went on to label him “quite simply one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had” and added that “we and all the team [at This Morning] wish him all the best for the future.”
https://twitter.com/DavidMackayy/status/1660573746707537920?s=20
Dermot then explained that Holly Willoughby would be “taking a break over half term” and will be back in the This Morning studio on Monday 5 June. TV critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan pointed out that the tribute to Schofield lasted “just 35 seconds.”
In a statement on Saturday, Schofield wrote that he was quitting to “protect the show” which had become the focus of media reports due to his deteriorating relationship with co-presenter, Holly Willoughby. Schofield said he was leaving with “immediate effect” from the show he joined in 2002, as ITV had decided “the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love”.
Reports on Monday said he had been left “completely broken” by his departure, and had been given six months’ wages as a parting gift.
This article originally appeared on JOE.co.uk
Related articles:
- Fast X director plans to set Fast & Furious 11 scenes in Ireland
- Amazon Prime Video has quietly added 22 big movies to its library
- The Bear creator and showrunner offer up details of what Season Two holds in store
- A 2015 movie has suddenly become the most expensive movie ever made
