The pari have, professionally, parted ways after Phillip sensationally quit This Morning after 20 years amid rumours of a ‘rift’

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby face being brought back together days after the This Morning ‘split’ was revealed. On Saturday (May 20), Phillip sensationally quit This Morning after 20 years.

The presenter said in a statement that the programme had ‘become the story’ and that he wanted to “do what I can to protect the show that I love” after rumours were rife that he and Holly Willoughby were ‘barely speaking’ behind the scenes amid a ‘rift’ between the pair.

Holly, 42, issued a statement in response to the news, which she also shared on Instagram, saying: “It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”

This Morning has since continued without them both as despite ITV confirming Holly will remain at the helm of the show and host alongside “members of the This Morning family”, she hasn’t appeared on-screen since the news. She has instead taken an extra week off alongside her planned half-term break and will be back on June 5.

Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have stepped in to host the poplar daytime programme and opening the first show of the week on Monday (May 22), Alison, 48, and Dermot, 49, appeared sombre as they addressed the news and paid tribute to their now-former colleague. “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. Phillip Schofield,” Alison said.

Dermot continued: “So as a show, everyone on and off screen at ITV and This Morning say a huge thank you to Phil for what he’s done to make the show such a success over the last 21 years.” Alison added: “Quite simply, we all know he’s one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had, and we and all the team wish him all the best for the future.”

Now it has been revealed that Holly and Phillip could be brought back together attending an awards do, after both have been recognised in the National Television Awards longlist for best TV presenter, while This Morning is up for the daytime prize.

Holly and Phillip with their fellow This Morning stars at the NTA’s last year(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Days after Phillip’s exit, it was announced both the pair are among 50 names longlisted for the NTA presenter prize, alongside their fellow This Morning presenters Alison, Dermot and Rylan Clark. They are joined in the category by NTA powerhouses Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who took home the award for the 21st year in a row during last year’s ceremony.

This Morning has also been longlisted in the daytime category after winning the award last year, competing alongside shows including Good Morning Britain, Loose Women and Lorraine. The NTA longlist also saw Dame Deborah James and Paul O’Grady posthumously recognised.

It comes after the pair reportedly faced a disgruntled crowd after This Morning picked up its latest National Television Award last year. The ITV daytime show won an award during the showbiz ceremony held at London’s OVO Wembley Arena on October 13.

As This Morning was announced as the winner for the Daytime category, a stunned Phillip put his head in his hands and appeared to hold back tears. Holly looked equally as surprised and pleased as she immediately hug her co-star and off-screen ‘bestie’. Holly, 41, then rushed off to embrace Alison Hammond, who had not long missed out on a solo award for TV Presenter.

But while their fellow TV stars applauded it has been reported that the crowd around them audibly booed – and it was picked up by viewers watching the glitzy event live on ITV. Scott Bryan, a TV critic and broadcaster, tweeted: “A source at the ceremony says that there were some boos in the room when This Morning won an #NTAs, but boos stopped during the speech.”