Forlorn Phillip Schofield pictured as Holly makes Netflix debut after friendship in tatters

Phillip Schofield was seen on Wednesday looking glum a day after former co-host and best pal Holly Willoughby appeared on the red carpet for Celebrity Bear Hunt

Phillip Schofield looked glum

TV presenter Phillip Schofield cut a glum figure as he stepped out of his west London home.

It comes as former best pal Holly Willoughby’s Netflix debut aired. She took on the hosting duties of new series Celebrity Bear Hunt featuring Bear Grylls.

Phillip was seen putting his rubbish bins in wearing a Jack Wills hoody and blue jeans. He rolled his sleeves up as he pulled in the bins.

A day earlier, Holly had been looking glamorous on the red carpet at the premiere of her new series at London’s Odeon West End. She dazzled as she stepped out with her Celebrity Bear Hunt co-stars. She was joined on the red carpet by contestants including Lottie Moss, Una Healy, and Mel B.

Phillip pulling his bins in

Phillip was seen on Wednesday

The former This Morning star looked sensational as she posed for the awaiting photographers in a plunging black gown, which is thought to have cost over £1,000. Holly’s outfit featured sleek velvet detailing and she completed her look with a pair of simple black heeled shoes to give her extra height for the night.

Holly and Phillip were once close pals both on and off the screen. Their obviously genuine friendship helped to create a natural onscreen chemistry which often left them red-faced in fits of giggles on This Morning, while also impressing on Dancing On Ice hosting duties.

However, the pair, who worked side by side for 14 years, had a major falling out after Phillip admitted to lying about an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair’ with a 20-year-old runner on This Morning. While both ended up leaving the show, matters seemed to escalate with their fractured relationship when Holly released a statement saying she had felt “hurt” by his “lies”.

Phillip Schofield outside his London property

Holly Willoughby and Bear Grylls at the Odeon West End ( 
Image:
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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In a bombshell interview with the BBC following the fallout, Phil spoke about his last text to Holly before ties were severed. “The last time we had a conversation was when I texted Holly and said, ‘Don’t reply’ – this was after the statement last week – ‘Don’t reply, you’re probably not allowed to, but I am deeply deeply sorry that I lied to you. And I am.” He also told The Sun that the affair “was the one secret in our sanctuary that was never mentioned”, adding that he had “lost my best friend”.

While Holly is reviving her career with the huge Netflix role, Phillip recently tried to return to the spotlight on Channel 5’s Cast Away. He was isolated on an island close to Madagascar for 10 days without “no food or water” in his survival challenge.

On it, however, he appeared to took a dig at his former friend. Holly asked viewers ‘Firstly, are you OK?’ In the light of Phillip’s decision to quit the daytime show. On the Channel 5 programme, he made it clear there is no love lost between the pair these days.

Sitting down for a BBQ with his wife and two daughters in one scene he had a glint in his eye and said: “If you’re okay, then we’re okay and I’m okay. Are you okay?”

Bear Grylls meanwhile praised Holly on her latest return. The iconic survivalist appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, 5 February, to chat to hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid about the new Netflix series. He called her “humble” and “brave”.

As Susanna reflected on Holly’s tough times in recent years, Bear said, “Holly has a beautiful spirit—she really does. As you say, she’s overcome many tough things in her life.”