'Holly knows her stint with Phillip has had its day'

Holly Willoughby is striving to embark on an exciting solo career following her fall-out with This Morning co-star

- Rhianna Benson

Holly Willoughby was preparing to “go it alone” last week amid fears her reputation is on the line as the fall-out over her feud with co-presenter Phillip Schofield rumbled on.

A source told new that Holly, 42, won’t let Phillip stand in her way of success, and is keen to refresh her role on This Morning.

“Holly is waiting patiently for Phillip’s departure from the show,” our source believes. “She still has a lot of love for him, but is becoming increasingly worried about her own reputation.

“By Phil not holding his hands up and bowing out of the show, it’s almost as if he’s dragging Holly down with him. She knows she still has plenty more years of television left in her.

“She doesn’t want to think too far into the future because she knows it’ll hurt Phil, but she’s looking forward to being paired up with someone new. She wants to rejuvenate This Morning, because she knows her stint with Phillip has had its day.”

While Holly and Phillip, 61, have been putting on a united front for viewers, our source claimed the atmosphere is tense once the cameras stop rolling, telling us, “Their relationship is becoming more strained every day.”

Phillip has seen his popularity nose dive in recent weeks, with a source at ITV telling new, “Not a lot of people like Phil. I can’t believe he’s still on the show.”

As This Morning’s viewing figures fell by 100,000 last week, it was reported that Phillip’s contract, which runs out this summer, is at risk. Rumours are already abound as to who could replace him, with Dermot O’Leary or Alison Hammond, who currently present Friday’s show, both being firm favourites.