Holly Willoughby responds to Phillip Schofield's 'witch' remark amid This Morning fallout

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Holly Willoughby is seemingly unfazed by the fact that her former friend Phillip Schofield has reportedly labelled her "a witch".Ex-This Morning presenter Schofield, 62, is believed to have come up with the harsh nickname for his previous co-host after Holly apparently declined to assist him in retaining his position on the ITV show last year.The Mirror disclosed on Monday evening how Schofield blamed Holly for not standing by him when he was in dire need, stating: "You brought me down." In a dramatic outburst, the star vented his frustration at Holly via WhatsApp just a day before news of his exit from This Morning made headlines.An insider close to the erstwhile friends informed the Mirror: "As well as saying she had brought him down, he said he couldn't believe his TV sister would do this to him."Schofield directed his ire towards Holly for not publicly supporting him after rumours emerged of discord following his brother's court case in May 2023.

He had anticipated a public endorsement, possibly a statement or photo together, which he thought could dispel the allegations of a rift between the iconic presenting pair.

However, his plea was met with silence from the mother-of-three.The source suggests that Holly's lack of support sealed Schofield's fate on the renowned sofa, as viewers began questioning their once celebrated on-screen partnership.The friend explained: "He feels it was a simple gesture that might have saved his job and her refusal to do so effectively finished him off.

Believing in the TV chemistry was the bedrock of the This Morning format. After the pal's insights - coupled with the allegation that Schofield called his former co-host "a witch" - Holly's representatives struck back.Holly, 43, has