Eamonn Holmes trades blows on social media with ‘delusional liar’ Phillip Schofield | Ents & Arts News

Eamonn Holmes has described Phillip Schofield as “delusional” and said he has “picked the wrong person… if you’re looking for a fight”.

It comes hours after Schofield, 61, released a statement attacking his critics as “a handful of people with a grudge against me”.

Holmes, 63, who used to cover him on This Morning, wrote on Twitter on Monday: “Schofield has just put out a delusional statement.

“Like Holly he puts it on Insta Stories so if it goes wrong there is no record after 24 hrs. I’m reluctant to give the liar any more publicity but believe me Pip if u r looking for a fight , u have picked on the wrong person !”

Schofield spoke out on Monday for the first time since admitting an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger production assistant on the show.

His statement on Instagram post read: “Now I no longer work on @thismorning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.

“This morning IS the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there there was no toxicity. You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you like.

“But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know, it IS a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard working people.”

Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, who have presented since Schofield stepped down on 20 May, made brief reference to the controversy on Monday morning’s edition.

Read more:
A timeline of the This Morning controversy
ITV responds to rumours around show’s future
Why Schofield’s admission could kill off his career

“We happen to be in the news at the moment, and of course we appreciate that,” O’Leary said ahead of their newspaper review. “But just from both of us and the whole team here, the crew, the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you.”

Hammond added: “We really do. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Gyles Brandreth, who was reviewing the papers, also offered his support, saying: “This is a happy place to work. I enjoy coming here.”

‘Toxic culture’ goes ‘far beyond’ Schofield

It comes after former This Morning doctor Ranj Singh, released a statement about the “toxic culture” at the show, claiming the “issues” with it “go far beyond him [Schofield]”.

Schofield’s former colleague, Eamonn Holmes, said the star had “finally been caught out”.

“He’s not the only guilty party. 4 high members of ITV management knew what sort of man he was,” he said on Twitter.

ITV said it investigated “rumours of a relationship” between the host and a production assistant on the show in 2020 but that both parties denied it.

In response to Dr Ranj’s claims, they said his complaint was investigated but “no evidence of bullying or discrimination” was found.

First show since affair admission

Hammond and O’Leary paid a short 30-second tribute to Schofield on Friday’s show – a day before he revealed he had quit over the affair.

He originally said he was stepping down because the programme had “become the story” following reports of a feud between him and co-host Holly Willoughby.

That came after his brother was recently jailed for 12 years over child sex offences.

Willoughby, 41, is due to return next Monday (5 June), having gone on an early half-term holiday on 22 May.

She has said that “when reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not”.

“It’s been very hurtful to now find out this was a lie,” an Instagram statement added.

Schofield has now completely resigned from ITV and been dropped by his agents.

His statement to the Daily Mail also admitted lying about the affair to his wife, to ITV, his agents and the media.

The controversy has raised doubts about both Willoughby’s and the show’s future, but ITV has denied reports it could be axed.