‘Of course not!’ Phillip Schofield hits back at rumours he will ‘move to BBC in deal worth millions after ITV contracts ends in 2021’
Phillip Schofield has hit back at rumours he will move to the BBC in a big-money deal when his contract with ITV ends in 2021.
The presenter, 58, replied to a fan on Twitter who wrote: ‘@Schofe please please don’t say that you and Holly are leaving this morning?’
Phil told him: ‘Course not’.
‘Of course not!’ Phillip Schofield has hit back at rumours he will move to the BBC in a big-money deal when his contract with ITV ends in 2021
Phil’s response comes after sources claimed the veteran presenter is being eyed by BBC bosses as his ‘golden handcuffs’ deal with ITV will be coming to an end in 2021.
Phil is thought to be one of the highest-earning presenters on TV with a salary of around £1 million a year, mainly thanks to his jobs hosting This Morning and Dancing On Ice.
A source said: ‘He’s become a prime target for the BBC who think he would be the perfect face for a number of new shows. His contract with ITV ends in 2021 so the BBC want to start a conversation.
Hitting back: The presenter, 58, replied to a fan on Twitter who wrote: ‘@Schofe please please don’t say that you and Holly are leaving this morning?’ Phil told him: ‘Course not’
Money deal: Phil’s response comes after sources claimed the veteran presenter is being eyed by BBC bosses (pictured with Holly Willoughby)
‘The hope is a meeting could take place as restrictions begin to ease later this year — and he’d be able to give them an idea of how much he’d be looking for.’
MailOnline contacted representatives for Phillip and BBC for comment at the time.
A BBC spokesperson stated: ‘There is absolutely no truth in this and no discussions have taken place.’
Phillip began his career on the BBC as the host of its children’s counterpart, introducing programmes alongside Gordon the Gopher following by the Saturday morning series Going Live!
Throwback: Phillip began his career on the BBC as the host of its children’s counterpart, introducing programmes alongside Gordon the Gopher
He landed his first ITV series Talking Telephone Numbers in 1994, and made his first appearance on This Morning in 2002 alongside Fern Britton.
When Fern left the show in 2009 she was replaced by Holly, and their partnership has gone down in TV history.
Phillip also co-hosts Dancing On Ice with Holly, and presents the game show 5 Gold Rings and the annual British Soap Awards.
In February, Phillip publicly came out as gay in an emotional This Morning interview, earning universal praise from viewers.
The veteran presenter has been married to wife Stephanie Lowe since 1993 and the couple have two daughters together – Molly, 27, and Ruby, 24.
Legendary: He made his first appearance on This Morning in 2002 alongside Fern Britton, who left the daytime programme in 2009