THIS morning boss Martin Frizell is leaving the ITV show after ten years in charge and the Phillip Schofield scandal.
His shock announcement comes just 16 months after his wife Fiona Phillips, 63, revealed she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
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This Morning boss Martin Frizell is leaving the ITV show
Martin, 65, joined the channel in 2014 as editor of Loose Women before taking up his decade-long tenure on This Morning, which he will leave in spring 2025.
Although he still has a few months left in the job, The Sun understands ITV staff have been blindsided by the move as there is no replacement ready to be brought in.
A source said: “It’s a real shock to everyone on the show – he’s been there for so long.
“Nobody saw that coming at all. As far as everyone knows, they don’t have anyone lined up to replace him either.”
read more about Martin Frizell
This Morning, now in its 37th year, is one of the UK’s longest-running programs and Martin is the show’s longest-serving editor.
In his announcement, he said: “Next year I expect my family priorities to change so I have to make time for them.
“I love my team at ITV and will miss them and the excitement of live TV, but it’s an always-on, 24/7 commitment and I won’t be able to do both.
“It was a privilege to lead really great presenters and producers, between us we turned out more than six thousand hours of live television shows, that’s about 20,000 contributions and while the gongs are always good.
“I’m most proud of the difference we’ve made to so many lives, even saving a few with our anti-suicide, menopause, testicular cancer and ‘how to’ campaigns.
“This great strength is the most difficult test for any television journalist.”
The identity of Philip Schofield’s ‘three whores’ exposed as friends discover the cruel name he calls Holly
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director, Media and Entertainment added: “This Morning is an iconic show in the ITV schedule and to have been at the helm of the team for a decade, producing over ten hours of original, topical live television each week is an incredible achievement.
“As a program and a brand, Martin has ensured that the show continues to be a household name, an award-winning schedule staple with a growing successful presence in the digital and social worlds.
“On behalf of the ITV network, we thank Martin and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Emma Gormley, director of ITV Studios Daytime, said: “Martin has brought so much success to This Morning over the last decade which has seen the evolving landscape of changing and diversifying viewing habits.
“Under Martin, This Morning is now one of the most engaged formats in the country, both on ITV and across social platforms, reaching an incredible one billion views this year alone; an incredible legacy.
“I am proud of the brilliance and energy he has brought to his role as custodian of this iconic brand.
“Martin’s decade-long contribution to the longevity and good health of our flagship show has been outstanding, and he leaves it in a place where it can continue to thrive for the next decade and beyond.”
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Martin was seen with former presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield Credit: Instagram
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He was This Morning’s longest serving editor Credit: Louis Wood
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He climbed the ladder with his wife Fiona Phillips by his sideCredits: PA
ITV says Martin’s successor will be announced in due course.
A great career
This native of Glasgow has behind him a great career as a journalist, TV producer and editor.
He climbed to success with his wife and small screen co-star Fiona by his side.
Martin began his professional career as a researcher for the BBC before moving on to generate content for other major TV networks.
In addition to his TV triumphs, he is also a writer and journalist – his work has appeared in The Sun, Daily Mail and Mirror.
He was recognized for his work in television by being awarded a Royal Television Society Fellowship in 2016.
Martin previously worked as a correspondent for Thomson Reuters and GMTV for seven years, according to his LinkedIn.
Martin was also editor of GMTV for 10 years before his shock departure.
As for the decision to leave, he said: “ITV’s merger with GMTV seems like a natural point to close my chapter with Britain’s best breakfast show and start a new one.”
After leaving GMTV, he worked as the UK correspondent for Channel 7’s Australian breakfast show Sunrise.
Who will replace Martina?
WITH the ITV boss leaving after ten years at the helm, insiders say Vivek Sharma could replace Martin Frizell on This Morning.
Vivek joined This Morning as deputy editor in 2016 – before that he worked his way up at ITV as an editor on Loose Women, then assistant editor on Good Morning Britain.
In 2020 he left ITV to work as executive editor on the launch of Steph’s Packed Lunch, before moving to News UK’s TalkTV in early 2022. He returned to This Morning last November as associate editor.
A TV insider told The Sun: “He’s a very familiar face at ITV and all the bosses love him – everyone who works there thinks he’s going to get the job.”
Martin also made a brief foray into the world of PR as an executive producer at GolinHarris.
He had a brief stint there as he took on the job of editor of the longest-running women’s panel show – Loose Women – before moving to This Morning.
Marriage to Fiona Phillips
Martin married TV presenter Fiona in May 1997.
The couple has two sons, Nathaniel and Mackenzie.
Last July, the mother of two revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 62.
The TV star, who suffered from brain fog for months, said she was “heartbroken” by the same condition that plagues her family.
The cruel blow, which Fiona has been secretly living with for 18 months, came earlier than Fiona expected.
She continued: “It’s something I might have thought I’d get at 80. But I was still only 61.”
Martin is said to have stayed by her side to support her.
Phil falls
The industry titan faced the wrath of Phillip Schofiel last month when the fallen star branded him, ITV’s Emma Gormley and his former co-host Holly Willoughby as “the three s**ts of showbiz”.
The former presenter hit out at the trio in his television comeback on Channel 5’s Cast Away, but did not name anyone.
Phil’s friends later set the record straight and reveal the three people Phil blames for ending his television career.
They said Phil believes Holly and boss Martin staged an “orchestrated coup” to get him fired after jailing his pedophile brother Timothy.
A friend said: “Phil’s three sisters are Holly, Martin and Emma.
“He now dislikes Holly so much that he calls her a ‘witch’ when he talks about her and sends emojis to his friends if she appears.
“Phil believes that Holly, Martin and Emma were the reason he was axed from ITV and thinks he was treated unfairly.
“He texted Holly and said, ‘You brought me down.’ He was furious, and still is.”
Phil claimed he was fired because of the bad publicity surrounding his brother, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison last May for sexual offenses with a child.
It was in stark contrast to how his exit played out publicly, with Phil releasing a statement saying he was stepping down after a “careless but not illegal” affair with a younger show host.
Timeline of the Schofield scandal
2017: Phillip Scofield and the runner share a “consensual moment” in his locker room
17 April 2023: Schofield returns to This Morning after his brother Tim was convicted of sexual assault – but Holly is missing.
May 10: The Sun exclusively reveals Schofield and Holly are barely on speaking terms after insiders said their relationship had “chilled”.
May 11: Schofield breaks his silence and calls Holly his “rock” in an attempt to mend their broken relationship.
May 15: The daytime TV couple are said to be “fighting” – after their on-screen chemistry appears to have fizzled.
20 May: Phillip announces he will be stepping down from his role on This Morning
21 May: Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond switch pairings on This Morning
May 22: The pair pay tribute to Schofield on air – labeling him “one of the best live TV broadcasters”
May 26: Schofield admits he had an affair with a “much younger man” – and announces he is stepping down from ITV
May 27: ITV says it has investigated “rumours of a relationship” between Schofield and a younger employee – but the couple have “repeatedly denied” the affair. Then, Holly also accuses Schofield of lying to her about the affair
May 28: Former This Morning doctor Ranj Singh claims “the problems with This Morning go way beyond” Schofield
May 29: Minutes before the start of This Morning, Schofield lashed out at “the same handful of people who are upset with me or the show” – seeing former co-star Eamonn Holmes hit back
30 May: Phillip Schofield is sacked as Prince’s Trust ambassador. It is understood separately that ITV bosses are due to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee
31 May: It is revealed that Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will be questioned alongside Holly Willoughby and the rest of the show’s host list
June 1: Schofield exclusively tells The Sun she feels “absolutely devastated and embarrassed” by the affair
June 6: Returning to the This Morning sofa after a two-week absence, Willoughby told viewers she felt “shaken, upset, let down” after revelations about Schofield’s affair, which led to his departure. The ITV boss was grilled over his row with Phillip Schofield and was mocked by the MP who quotes Holly and asks ‘are you ok?’
October 10: Holly Willoughby quits This Morning job, says ‘for me and my family’
December 7: An ITV review is released – revealing that only one other person knew about the affair
In September 2022, Holly and Phil were heavily criticized for apparently skipping the queue to see the late Queen laid to rest at Westminster Hall.
However, The Sun can reveal Phil begged Martin to cancel the segment.
In messages two days before the shooting, he warned him that it would have a “wrong tone” and that he wanted to “stay out”.
Phil later asked Martin to reconsider, calling the plan “ill-conceived”.
The friend added: “Phil didn’t even want to go to Westminster. He predicted it would backfire and it did. He wanted to watch the procession from the bottom of his driveway at home.
“They never actually skipped a line and when they had to read the statement explaining it, it was even more excruciating for Phil because Holly got the most lines.
“Phil predicted it would be taken badly and he was right.”
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The Glasgow native has had an illustrious career behind himCredit: Handout
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Last July, Fiona revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 62 Credit: Getty
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