PHILLIP Schofield was axed from This Morning after a tense showdown with bosses... in a trade-off which protects his other ITV roles.
The presenter, who has fronted the show for 18 years, had faced intense scrutiny since a bitter rift with co-host Holly Willoughby was made public.
And insiders last night revealed his fate was unanimously decided in meetings at ITV Daytime on Friday.
Bosses then set up a call with Phil's management company YMU in order to break the news.
It is understood Head of Daytime Emma Gormley and Head of Programmes Kevin Lygo then both spoke to 61-year-old Phil.
He agreed to walk away on the basis that conversations about his roles on other shows like Dancing on Ice remain active and he was promised a new show which he will host solo.
STATEMENT
Yesterday after two weeks of on-screen awkwardness and ratings going into free fall - Phil announced in a statement on Instagram that he was stepping down in a bid to "protect the show that I love".
But behind the scenes he moaned to sympathisers he had "been hung out to dry" by Holly and TV chiefs.
Sources say he and Holly, 42, have not spoken since the decision was made, and while she issued a quote paying tribute to her long-term co-star and former best pal, his statement notably made no mention of her.
Bu hikaye The Sunday Mirror dergisinin May 21, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Sunday Mirror dergisinin May 21, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
THIS SHOWS PEP HE NEEDS A LOT MORE UP FRONT IN LONG HAAL...
MANCHESTER CITY'S backline will receive the flak but their forwards are worthy of the blame.
MADCLAREN
Lando will come back stronger, but my old team will be kicking themselves ...they could have won it this year
It's a prison camp
Calm gardens, privacy pods and different way to do bird
Nicola: I love WAG drama
Hopes for Coleen on I'm A Celeb
TWO MORE WOMEN SET TO SUE GLITTER
Pop paedo 'depressed\" as legal claims mount
Olympic dispirit
Fortnums shubs Paralympians at party for Team GB's success
CHEAP THRILLS
Forming orderly queue is better than sex, says poll
Ruth lawyers build timeline on Eamonn's new romance
'Forensic' study for divorce talks
We'd be a perfect match if you were still Frank
TRANSGENDER Kellie Maloney ended a potential romance when the friend said they would be a perfect match... if she was still Frank.
EU vows to back Kyiv as Trump fears surge
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell promised Ukraine ongoing support yesterday on a visit to Kyiv, as Russia launched 50 drone attacks.