Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

This Morning hosts’ ITV salaries revealed as Phillip Schofield quits

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield had hosted the daytime series together since 2009

Jacob Stolworthy
Tuesday 23 May 2023 15:00 BST
Comments
Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary pay tribute to This Morning's Phillip Schofield

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Phillip Schofield has quit This Morning after 21 years following claims of a behind-the-scenes rift with Holly Willoughby.

The pair hosted the ITV daytime series together since 2009, three years after they started their working relationship on Dancing on Ice.

In his exit statement, Schofield said he had decided to step down from the show as “ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love”. Willouhgby “thanked” Schofield “for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour”, adding: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”

In 2017, it was revealed that Willoughby had signed a new contract that matched Schofield’s annual salary of approximately £600,000 to £700,000.

Until then, Willoughby is believed to have been paid £200,000 less than Schofield.

This update came 12 years after it was claimed Schofield’s former co-host Fern Britton was paid £250,000 a year less than Schofield.

Britton quit the series in 2009, and Schofield has made no secret of their tumultuous working relationship.

In his 2020 memoir Life is What You Make It, Schofield said that, ahead of her departure from the show, Britton accused him of “meddling” with its content, forcing him to “calmly” tell her: “Please don’t do that to me again.”

Willoughby is taking a two-week break from This Morning, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary stepping in temporarily.

Though Schofield has left This Morning, he will host The British Soap Awards for ITV in June.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in