'Stop this relentless persecution:' Piers Morgan weighs in on Phillip Schofield furore

ITV has provided a timeline of how it responded to rumors of This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield’s relationship with a younger runner three years before the story burst into the public domain.

Holly Willoughby has been flooded with compliments from fans after continuing with her This Morning tradition after Phillip Schofield's exit. The presenter, 42, has been at the centre of drama in recent weeks after her co-hosts dramatic departure from ITV.

Holly Willoughby addressed This Morning viewers on Monday as she emotionally thanked her colleagues in an emotional statement about the Phillip Schofield scandal.

Holly Willoughby has reportedly made a vow to never publicly talk about the recent scandal surrounding Phillip Schofield again, after addressing it this week during live morning TV.The This Morning presenter, 42, who returned to the show on Monday, 5 June, after an extended half-term break, told the British public that she felt 'shaken and let down' by her former best friend, while reading out a statement. It came after an intense few weeks for the popular daytime show, during which long-time host Philip stepped down from his role, amid "feud" rumours with Holly. He admitted to an affair with a younger male colleague just days later.

Prince Harry has inflamed his war with Piers Morgan by personally attacking the TalkTV and Fox Nation presenter in explosive court testimony.

Piers Morgan has said Holly Willoughby was left in an "impossible position" as she returned to This Morning following Phillip Schofield's departure. The former Good Morning Britain host says Holly's hardest problem now will be finding Phil's replacement. It comes after the This Morning star returned to work for the first time since Phillip quit the show and ITV after admitting to an affair with a younger colleague.

Holly Willoughby 'wanted to say more' in her opening statement on This Morning, a body language expert has claimed. The presenter made her much-awaited comeback appearance on the ITV daytime show on Monday (June 5) where she was joined by Josie Gibson.

Holly Willoughby has made her first major statement since the Phillip Schofield scandal unfolded as she returned to This Morning. The presenter hasn't been seen on screens since her former co-star 'stepped back' from the daytime show before admitting to lying to her about his relationship with a much younger ITV colleague.

Holly Willoughby 'will not shy away' from the Phillip Schofield scandal when she returns to the This Morning sofa on Monday. The host plans to address the affair 'openly and honestly', a TV source told The Sun.

A 'mortified' Phillip Schofield has claimed that he did 'not groom' the younger colleague at This Morning in his first interview since the scandal emerged.

As ITV continues to bear the brunt of the fallout following Phillip Schofield’ s fall from grace after he admitted to having an affair with a much younger colleague, another prominent part of Phil’s celebrity status that has taken a hit - is his portfolio of brand deals. Throughout the course of his career, Phil was headhunted to front a number of high profile partnerships, selling everything from second hand cars through to craft gins to all corners of the general public.

Phillip Schofield has been spotted and photographed for the first time following his bombshell affair revelations.

Yet another star has come forward to reveal their upset after being interviewed by Phillip Schofield on This Morning. Kerry Katona has broken her silence, admitting that her infamous 2008 interview on the orange sofa left her feeling "suicidal." Phillip's bombshelll admission over the weekend has opened up old wounds for a number of famous faces whom he interviewed live on telly, including Jodie Marsh who was left feeling "silly" and unsupported.

ITV said it has instructed a barrister to carry out an external review of the facts following Phillip Schofield’s statement and departure from This Morning.

For many years, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were day time television royalty and a popular fixture on ITV's This Morning. However, the show has been shrouded in controversy after rumours of a feud between Phil and Holly and since he admitted to an affair with a younger male colleague while still married, leading him to leave the show. He later resigned from ITV, telling the Daily Mail in a statement: "I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family.

Phillip Schofield quit ITV and admitted having an affair with a younger colleague, after earlier stepping down from This Morning.The presenter, 61, faced a number of controversies before leaving the ITV talk show on May 20 after more than 20 years. Headlines reported on a rift with long-time co-host Holly Willoughby, his brother’s sex abuse trial and the furore over his visit to the late Queen’s lying in state.

Piers Morgan has weighed in on the This Morning drama following Phillip Schofield's statement and compared it to the 1992 crime movie Reservoir Dogs.

ITV has insisted This Morning will return amid reports the show could be axed after Phillip Schofield quit.

Carol Vorderman has speculated on who she thinks is going to replace Phillip Schofield on This Morning after he quit the show and admitted to having an affair with a 'much younger colleague'. The 61-year-old presenter sensationally quit This Morning last Saturday after 21 years of fronting the show, amid reports of an ongoing 'feud' with his co-host Holly Willoughby.

Alison Hammond reportedly put her £700,000 home up for sale last Thursday – the last day Phillip Schofield hosted This Morning, before he announced he was leaving the show with “immediate” effect. ITV presenting veteran Phil, 61, called it quits last weekend - after 21 years of fronting the hit morning show, as reports of a "feud" with his co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, raged on. Since his exit, bubbly Alison, 48, has presented the show alongside co-host Dermot O'Leary, 49, - who usually hosts with her each Friday - and Craig Doyle, 52.