This Morning’s Craig Doyle Reveals He No Longer Speaks to Phillip Schofield
This Morning presenter Craig Doyle has revealed he no longer speaks to disgraced former co-star Phillip Schofield following his shock departure from the ITV show last year. Phillip Schofield, 61, is set to make a significant TV comeback this year after exiting showbiz in 2023. His departure came after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair and falling out with long-time friend Holly Willoughby.
Schofield has been making a cautious return to social media, posting infrequently about his new puppy and recently being spotted out with Declan Donnelly. Craig Doyle, who joined This Morning in 2022 and became a regular host alongside Holly following Phillip’s exit, opened up about both stars leaving the show. He revealed he hasn’t spoken to Phil since his departure. “I spoke to Holly recently, and she’s in great form and she’s about to go off on her travels somewhere, told The Mirror.
She had a really traumatic time and it was scary for her, that stalker business, but she’s good and happy,” Craig shared with Woman magazine. Regarding Phillip, Craig added, “I haven’t spoken to Phil, just because I haven’t been around, but I wish him well – I wish them all well.” Reflecting on his time working with Phillip, he said it was like “sitting having a coffee with a friend,” and noted that everyone on the show has that friendly vibe.
Phillip Schofield’s reputation was severely damaged last year when he admitted to an affair with a younger colleague. He kept a low profile and stayed away from social media, lying to his family and bosses about the relationship. In a tell-all BBC interview, he confessed his daughter saved his life, expressing that he felt “broken and ashamed.” Phillip spent time with his parents in Cornwall to recover from the scandal.
Despite the fallout, Lorraine Kelly expressed her support for Phillip earlier this year, telling The Sunday Times Magazine, “I was heartbroken when all that happened. It’s just a shame for the amazing career that he’s had, for it to end like that.”
Crisis management expert Edward Coram James, CEO of Go Up, recently told the Mirror, “It’s hardly surprising that Schofield is now considering a comeback, and that producers and networks may be lining up to make him job offers. His behavior during and after the scandal is a textbook example of how people should act in the face of a PR disaster. It’s a feat that very few manage to pull off, but it’s given Schofield the opportunity for a second chance.”
Phillip is believed to have reached out to his former co-star of 14 years, Holly Willoughby after she became the target of a kidnap and murder plot. He allegedly contacted Holly after being “horrified” by the news, with Holly reportedly “really happy” to hear from him. A source told the Mirror, “Phil’s decision to reach out, and the welcome it has been received with by Holly, shows that there is still a bond there. The hope is they can regain some of the ground lost and support each other again.”