Rumours suggest the BBC are lining up a huge deal to poach This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield from ITV.
While he is well known from being on the BBC in his younger days, hosting shows like CBBC and Going Live, these days the 57-year-old is a permanent fixture on ITV, fronting the likes of Dancing on Ice, Spend Well At Christmas, The Cube, The British Soap Awards and of course This Morning.
Phillip has anchored the award-winning daytime show since 2002, firstly alongside Ferne Britton and then with Holly Willoughby since 2006.
However, sources claim that the BBC are lining up a big money contract to tempt him back over to them once his 'golden handcuffs' deal with ITV runs out at the end of next year.
A source told The Sun : “Phil’s a telly legend. He has thousands of loyal fans who follow his every move.
“He’s become a prime target for the BBC who think he would be the perfect face for a number of new shows.
“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.”
The BBC have denied the speculation and is is also being claimed that, should they put a lucrative deal on the table, ITV could well beat it to get him to stay with them.
Phillip's future with This Morning was the subject of speculation earlier this week when it was reported that the show's long-running editor, Martin Frizzell was set to retire.
