Phillip Schofield joked that ITV bosses couldn’t “sack him” as he announced his decision to take a break from This Morning from next week onwards.
The 58-year-old presenter made the announcement during Tuesday’s game of Spin to Win, revealing he was taking his annual leave at the end of the week.
ITV has confirmed that Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford will be replacing Holly Willoughby and Phil on the show, as they take some well-deserved time off.
When a caller named Mary rang into the studio, Phil decided to generously increase her prize as he gently broke the news.
Hinting he wouldn’t be fired, he quipped: “We’re off for the summer on Friday so they can’t sack me.”
Holly admitted she was counting down the days until she could take annual leave (Image: ITV)
The statement comes amid speculation that the BBC is hoping to poach Phil from ITV, nabbing the presenter to front the Beeb’s own productions.
However, Phil has hit out at the rumours, insisting he has no plans to leave the network anytime soon.
Referring to the speculation, one fan asked over Twitter: “This would surely be the worst decision ever to make.”
Phil and Holly will be replaced by their colleagues Ruth and Eamonn (Image: ITV)
Another wondered: “@Schofe please please don’t say that you and Holly are leaving this morning?”
Stamping out the rumours, Phil wrote “Course not” along with a crying laughing face.
In his teens, Phil started off his career as a tea boy at the BBC but has since cemented his status as an ITV star.
Ruth and Eamonn will be taking over the show from Monday onwards (Image: ITV)
The dad-of-two has been presenting This Morning since 2002, and also hosts Dancing on Ice alongside Holly each January.
On today’s show, Holly also hinted she was looking forward to a break from presenting, as she counted down the days until her annual leave.
Spilling the beans, Phil confessed: “She’s just said, ‘got three more to go, that’s six hours of telly!’”
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
