Amanda Holden has claimed that Phillip Schofield is the reason she has been overlooked for a presenting role on This Morning.
The 48-year-old Britain's Got Talent judge has complained that Schofield is 'overbearing' and that he has 'blocked her chances' of being his co-host in Holly Willoughby's absence.
The Sun Online has reported that Holden has complained to ITV bosses about Schofield and has feels she missed out on the role because he had branded her "difficult to manage".
The Heart FM breakfast DJ reportedly took her concerns to ITV boss Kevin Lygo, with a former daytime TV executive revealing that “Phillip actively campaigned for Rochelle Humes to get the job despite Amanda being more experienced."
This was despite it being alleged that Holden had been told in private that "she’d got the gig."
The TV executive went on to reveal that Holden "feels Phil unfairly used his powers of persuasion."
It has been reported that Holden was told that Rochelle had been given the role "because she was easier to ‘manage’ on air."
This has only fuelled the rift between Holden and Schofield, which has been simmering for years.
These concerns were apparently raised to Lygo last September and another female ITV star has allegedly complained about Schofield's "unreasonable actions".
The former executive went on to reveal that Schofield is seen as "the king of daytime TV," and is "utterly untouchable."
They continued to reveal that "things are increasingly toxic when the cameras stop rolling," and that there are some in ITV who are "secretly delighted that things are starting to emerge."
Holden used her Heart FM show to have a dig at the This Morning presenter, earlier this month,
She told her listeners that the three things she wouldn’t like to find in her home were: "Spiders, flies and Phillip Schofield."
ITV told The Sun Online: "Presenter line-ups on This Morning change regularly. Final decisions are made by producers, not presenters.
"Phillip is a much-loved broadcaster and part of the ITV family. He’s a consummate professional.
“Amanda is also held in high regard as a judge on one of our biggest shows.”
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