This Morning: Holly Willoughby gushes over Phillip Schofield 'He protects me'
THIS MORNING presenter Holly Willoughby, who joined the ITV show back in 2009, spoke out about the support of her co-star and good friend Phillip Schofield as she discussed the gender pay gap.
Holly Willoughby says Phil’s performance made her CRY
Holly Willoughby and her TV co-star have exhibited a close bond since she joined the daytime TV programme This Morning back in 2009.
The 37-year-old has now spoken out about the supportive relationship she has with Phillip Schofield, as she opened up about the gender pay gap.
It came after The Mirror reported that Holly had been said to have been given a £200,000 pay rise to match her This Morning and Dancing On Ice co-star last year.
During an interview with The Guardian, the Dancing On Ice presenter was quizzed about reports which claimed she had earned significantly less than her co-star.
The star initially explained she would be hesitant to answer, due to it being difficult to compare ITV contracts due to the range of shows sometimes included in them.
The first person that would be outraged is Phil, actually!
She admitted: “I feel like I’m speculating and it’s such a sensitive area and I don’t want to get it wrong.
“I feel like I might be putting my foot in it.”
However, Holly, who is now paid the same as her this Morning co-star for their role, went on to reveal Philip would be “outraged” if he found out he earned more than her.
She said: “The first person that would be outraged is Phil, actually!
“He’d be devastated.
“He would be the first person to make a stand.”
Opening up about their close bond, the Dancing On Ice presented insisted that the 56-year-old would ensure that the TV duo are paid fairly.
She continued: “He protects me in every other area of my life, so there’s no way he wouldn’t do that.”
Holly has hit out at the gender pay gap in the past, during an interview with Fabulous magazine.
She said: “If you have two equally qualified people who have been doing something for the same amount of time, then there is absolutely no excuse.”
The ITV favourite went on to reveal that the pair, who have never had an argument, have become so close over the years that they even speak in sync.
“We’ve got to the stage where we’ll say the same things at the same time on screen, in the same way. It’s really weird.
“The only other person I’ve got that with is my sister.”
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV from 10.30am.