Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford ‘snub Philip Schofield’s 40th anniversary TV tribute’ amid feud

EAMONN Holmes and Ruth Langsford were noticeably absent from Phillip Schofield’s 40th TV anniversary celebrations.

Phillip’s career was marked with a special show presented by Lorraine Kelly on Monday, with a host of familiar faces showering him with messages of praise.

Rex

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were absent from the show paying tribute to Phillip Schofield[/caption]

Ruckas

Co-star Holly Willoughby was among stars lining up to praise Phil[/caption]

But after Eamonn, 62, branded him “passive aggressive” in an interview over the weekend, both he and wife Ruth failed to make an appearance.

Instead it was left to Phil’s other co-stars over the years – including Holly Willoughby to join him on the show.

Presenting duos Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, and Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly also helped mark the milestone.

One segment saw Holly, 41, recall how Schofield, 59, had specifically requested she join him as his This Morning co-presenter.

She said: “I don’t know why you were so convinced of that and I thank you every day because I know that really you were on your own with that school of thought, and it was really down to you standing by that, that I got that job.

“Without a doubt, without you there is no way I would be doing This Morning today.”

But viewers at home jumped on to Twitter to ask: “No well wishes from Eamonn and Ruth?”

While another queried: “Any tributes from Eamonn yet? #Lorraine.”

A third quipped: “They obviously ran out of time for the glowing tribute from Eamonn and Ruth.”

During the show dedicated to Phil, eagled-eyed fans noted Eamonn had liked a tweet about the programme.

It read: “ITV doing damage limitation for their number one this morning whilst another member of their team has lost her son, quite inconsiderate really #lorraine”.

The tweet made reference to the death of Jamal Edwards, son of Loose Women presenter Brenda Edwards.

ONGOING FEUD

Belfast-born Eamonn and Ruth were replaced with Alison Hammond and Dermott O’Leary after 14 years hosting This Morning on Fridays, and during the holidays.

Speaking about their time on This Morning, Eamonn told The Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine: “Phillip is renowned for snubbing people.

“He’s very passive-aggressive. It’s up to Ruth to say how she felt, but I was feeling hurt for her. No one would have snubbed me like that.

“I have a good Belfast street fighter in me… I would be direct. I don’t go for presenters who think they have a special privilege or aura or influence.”

The remarks reignited his feud with Phil two years after Ruth, 61, made an official complaint about him to TV bosses.

Ruckas

Presenting duo Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan also popped onto Lorraine to sing his praises[/caption]