PR guru Mark Borkowski told MailOnline that Schofield’s abrupt exit shows ITV has backed Holly Willoughby – but he understands they will have made promises to Phillip Schofield that his career there is not over.
He said: ‘Phil’s departure is a chance for the show to be renewed and they are hoping it will be Holly Willoughby to do it. When she returns in a fortnight the show will be sparkly and fresh with an emphasis on life after Phil.
‘Holly Willoughby is now ITV’s great hope. Advertisers would rather put their trust in Holly instead of Phil because of the negativity surrounding him. He will be licking his wounds and going away quietly, hoping that Kevin Lygo and ITV hold true to their promises and give him more work.
‘Don’t write him off. As a rare figure who can front live TV, be it awards ceremonies and major events, I believe he will remain part of the ITV family as long as the negative stories dissipate’.
He added: ‘Keven Lygo is incredibly loyal to people – he knows Schofield is a talent, trained at the BBC and crucially someone who can do live TV. Not many people can do that. It’s an incredibly tough job’.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12110817/Whos-supporting-Team-Willoughby-v-Team-Schofield.html