Holly Willoughby 'refutes claims she ditched Phillip Schofield because his paedophile brother's arrest became bad for her brand'

Holly Willoughby has refuted claims she 'ditched Phillip Schofield when his brother's arrest for child sex offences became bad for her brand', according to reports.

It is understood Holly, 43, turned her back on the former This Morning star, 62, when his sibling Timothy went on trial in May.

Phillip's 54-year-old brother was convicted in April 2023 of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child.

A source told MailOnline Holly is annoyed by these claims and insisted there isn't a shred of truth in it.

The Sun reported that Holly 'started to put up a wall between them because she knew it could look bad for her name'.

A friend told the publication: 'Phil feels that he was sacked because of the bad press around his brother. Everyone knew about Tim – including Holly.

'They had a backstage make-up room called 'The Sanctuary' at This Morning, where Phil first assembled trusted pals including Holly and told them, tearfully, about his brother. Holly held his hand and was super kind.

'But Phil feels she distanced herself from it publicly because it was bad for her brand. But she supported Phil and was disgusted by what his brother had done.'

Holly's representatives declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

It comes after Phillip's text to Holly amid his career downfall has reportedly been revealed.

The presenter stepped down from the ITV show last May following an 'unwise' affair with a junior colleague.

Soon after Holly distanced herself from her former best friend and during a 'highly strategised' return to the This Morning sofa in June 2023, when she told viewers she had been left 'shaken, let down and worried.'

The Mirror now claims that Phillip accused Holly of not coming to his aid as his career was left in tatters telling her over WhatsApp: 'You brought me down.'

The publication claims he blasted Holly the day before news of his This Morning axe became public for not backing him.

A source told the newspaper: 'As well as saying she had brought him down, he said he couldn't believe his TV sister would do this to him.'

He also reportedly asked her for a public show of support such as a statement or picture of them together to diffuse the media storm but his pleas were ignored, the new report claims.

'He feels it was a simple gesture that might have saved his job and her refusal to do so effectively finished him off. Believing in the TV chemistry was the bedrock of the This Morning format,' a source added.

'Phillip considered her a friend, his TV sister as he called her, and always backed her, even recommending her to do the jungle. Her lack of public support was a low blow in his eyes.'

She then reportedly told Schofield that she didn't want to 'feed the narrative' and that ITV bosses didn't want her to publicly respond.

Representatives for Phillip and Holly have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

It comes amid reports Holl y is enjoying her new solo career after leaving This Morning and becoming 'free' from Phillip .

The TV star is said to be smiling again and has also reconnected with Fearne Cotton after the pair drifted apart when they stopping filming Celebrity Juice .

Holly and Fearne, who met when they were teens and appeared as team captains on Celebrity Juice together, reportedly drifted apart a couple of years ago after taking different paths and 'failed to check in on each other'.

It comes after a hellish year that saw Holly quit The Morning and 'live in fear' after discovering obese security guard Gavin Plumb plotted to kidnap, rape and murder her.

But now, the presenter is finally ready to step back into the spotlight by hosting a new Netflix reality competition show Bear Hunt, as well as returning to Dancing On Ice .

'Leaving This Morning has opened up new opportunities for Holly,' a source told The Sun over the weekend.

'Being free from being a double act with Phil [Phillip Schofield] has been good for her as well.'

Indeed, her fallout with Phil seems far from over with the pair still no longer on speaking terms.

He returned to TV screens this week and appeared to take swipes at some of his former colleagues but those who know Holly well say she 'doesn't care'.

The source added: 'After what she has been through, remarks like that are just nonsense.'

MailOnline has contacted Holly's representatives for comment.

Holly ignored Phillip's recent 'swipe' as she posed in stunning leggy new snaps on Saturday.

Her ex co-star on This Morning Phillip and his family appeared to mock Holly's famous 'are you ok?' clip as he made his return to TV this week.

The presenter appeared on Channel 5's Cast Away in which he thanks Ant McPartlin, 48, and Dec Donnelly, 49, as well as Joanna Lumley, 78, - but fails to mention Holly.

During the show he discussed his bitter parting of ways with ITV and This Morning, which he hosted for 21 years, while fending for himself on a remote island paradise, located off the coast of Madagascar.

Phillip was ousted from This Morning in May last year, after he admitted to lying about his relationship with a much younger male colleague.

Holly distanced herself from her former best friend and during a 'highly strategised' return to the This Morning sofa in June 2023, she told viewers she had been left 'shaken, let down and worried.'

But after the swipe Holly took to Instagram to celebrate the third birthday of her wellness company Wylde Moon as she shrugged off the recent drama.

She looked stunning in a light pink leggy dress with cute bow detailing on it as she posed with some silver balloons.

Holly penned in the caption: 'Join our 3rd birthday celebrations with 20% off perfume, wax melts, diffusers and travel minis...

'Just wanted to say a huge thank you for having been such a special part of our journey. Here's to more years of connection and beautiful moments ahead.'

It comes after Phillip and his family appeared to mock Holly's famous 'are you ok?' clip.

When she returned, she began by saying: 'Hello, Firstly, are you okay? I hope so. It feels very strange sat here without Phil.'

Appearing to reference the now-famous speech on Cast Away, Phillip is seen having a BBQ with his family before heading off to the island.

In a clip obtained by The Sun, he gives out food to his wife Stephanie and their daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28, and laughs: 'If you're ok, then we're ok, and I'm ok... are you ok?'

No mention of Holly is made in the clip.

Holly's said in the original statement that it: 'Feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil and I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have.

'Shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on and full of questions'.

'All of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process'.

'It's equally hard to see the toll it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone.'

She added: 'I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that the show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.

'And from the heart, can I just say thank you for all your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison, Craig and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every day.'

Phillip does not mention his former co-star Holly in his new TV show Cast Away - but does make multiple swipes at his former colleagues.

Despite mentioning ITV co-stars Ant and Dec as well as Joanna Lumley, 78, Holly isn't mentioned at all throughout the 45-minute episode.

In one outburst which will leave viewers wondering whether it is aimed at her, Schofield says: 'When you throw someone under a bus, you've got to have a really bloody good reason to do it.

'I got into telly because I love the nuts and bolts of telly, I never wanted to be famous. I'm not fussed about that.

'I miss parts of it. I miss most of it, I'm honest. But there are bits that I really, really, really don't miss.

'You learn a lot about people. I don't miss that.'

The disgraced presenter revealed this week he was taking part in his own survival show just 16 months on from leaving This Morning after admitting to having an 'unwise but not illegal' fling with a junior male colleague.

He is said to have turned down a selection of big money TV offers before choosing to sign up for Cast Away - which he believes will allow him to share his story in an 'unedited and honest' way.

Holly left This Morning in October 23 after presenting the show alongside Phillip for 14 years.

Sources at the time said she quit because the show 'wasn't the same' after her co-host left but was finally 'tipped over the edge' by an alleged 'kidnap and murder plot', insiders have claimed.

Meanwhile, during the episode Schofield referred to ITV duo Ant and Dec as his 'best mates'.

In May it was suggested Declan Donnelly had reportedly been trying to convince the former presenter to make a TV comeback, after the pair had a four-hour dinner together.

Joanna Lumley also featured, sending him a 'good luck' message.

Ms Lumley, 78, appeared in a similar programme in 1994. 'Listen, Phil these are the tips I've got,' she said.

'Keep your knives sharp, spend much of the day trying to find wood otherwise you won't be able to eat anything.

'When I was on the island I made a pair of shoes out of my bra, and I would love to think that you could do something a bit challenging, and bring it back so we could all look at it.

'I shall be thinking of you all the time Phil, and actually I'm a little bit jealous, lots of love.'

The new Channel 5 show comes after Holly reportedly moved out of her £3million family mansion - two months after stalker Gavin Plumb was jailed for his kidnap and murder plot.

The TV presenter stepped down from presenting This Morning after 14 years on the show due to the terrifying kidnap threat and subsequently took time out from the spotlight.

But in a sign that she may be moving past the horror ordeal and starting fresh, Holly is set to move out of her home, according to The Sun.

Pictures obtained by the publication saw removal vans outside the six-bed London property - where Holly has lived for 10 years.

A source said: 'The house was central to Plumb's terrifying plot.

'It can never feel the same again for Holly and her family. She just wants to move on and put this all behind her.'

MailOnline has contacted Holly's representatives for comment.

After Holly's stalker Gavin was sentenced, she released an empowering statement, thanking the police and her legal team who brought him to justice.

She said: 'As women we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes.

'I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.

'Thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Rt Hon Mr Justice Murray, Alison Morgan KC, the members of the jury and all involved in this case for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant will not be able to harm any more women.

'I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery this conviction may not have been possible.'