Amanda Holden Takes Fresh On-Air Swipe at Phillip Schofield
Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has reignited her long-standing feud with Phillip Schofield with a pointed on-air comment this week. The 56-year-old presenter didn't hold back when her former This Morning co-star's name was mentioned during a live broadcast on Heart Radio.
The On-Air Exchange That Sparked the Latest Dig
During Tuesday's Heart Radio show, Holden and co-host Jamie Theakston were joined by comedian Jack Whitehall ahead of his hosting duties at The Brit Awards. The conversation turned to Whitehall's outfit plans for the event, with Holden pressing him about whether he would wear "snappy" socks like his father.
When Whitehall joked about not wanting to be "upstaged by a sock," Holden turned to Theakston and declared: "Well, Jamie, I rest my case." Theakston appeared puzzled by her comment, asking: "What are you talking about? Children's television? That wasn't me, that was Phillip Schofield."
Upon hearing Schofield's name, Holden immediately responded with laughter: "Oh god, please, let's not mention that name on air, it's a family show!"
Background of the Bitter Feud
The tension between Holden and Schofield dates back to 2018, when reports emerged that Schofield had allegedly "actively campaigned" against Holden co-hosting This Morning with him while Holly Willoughby was on maternity leave in 2014. According to a former daytime TV executive who spoke to The Sun, Schofield pushed for Rochelle Humes to get the position instead.
ITV has consistently denied these allegations, with a spokesperson stating that presenter decisions are made exclusively by producers. Schofield himself addressed the rumors on social media, calling them "hurtful and wildly untrue."
Holden's History of Comments About Schofield
Despite the denials, Holden has made her feelings about Schofield clear on multiple occasions over the years. In 2019, during a playful game on Heart Radio about three things she wouldn't want to find in her home, she quipped: "Spiders, flies and Phillip Schofield."
She also revealed that she had attempted to extend an olive branch to Schofield, telling listeners: "I did offer to meet him for a coffee months ago, he didn't reply to my text. What can I say?" When Theakston noted that "the olive branch had been extended," Holden simply replied: "Oh, yes."
Recent Tensions and Related Comments
Holden has also made veiled comments about Schofield's former co-host Holly Willoughby. During a discussion about whether her show Unfinished Business would be recommissioned for a second series, Theakston cheekily asked if producers were considering Willoughby for the role.
Caught off guard, Holden laughed and responded: "No, they want a proper presenter." When Theakston warned she might get in trouble for the remark, Holden playfully dismissed the concern: "No one's listening."
The ongoing tension between these television personalities continues to capture public attention, with Holden's latest comments adding another chapter to their well-documented professional rift.
