Eamonn Holmes, who has since gone on to join rival GB News, took aim at former This Morning colleague Phillip Schofield, claiming that he is ‘renowned for snubbing people’

Eamonn Holmes has let rip at his former ITV bosses over his axing on This Morning, branding them “sly” and “hypocritical”.

The 62-year-old, who has since gone on to join rival GB News, also took aim at ex-colleague Phillip Schofield, claiming that he is “renowned for snubbing people”.

Eamonn had presented on Fridays and during half-terms alongside wife Ruth Langsford for 15 years to cover for main hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

However, it was revealed in November 2020 that the couple would be dropped from their usual slot and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

The couple were rumoured to have been “hurt” by the change at the time and now Eamonn has suggested that ITV bosses wanted to make it look like he had walked away from the role.

Eamonn Holmes has let rip at his former ITV bosses
Speaking to the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine, he said that “no one explained anything” to him, adding: “They’re sly. They didn’t want to announce that I’d been dropped because it would adversely affect audience figures, so they made it look as if I’d walked away from them rather than the other way round.”

He went on to claim that bosses had had a chat with his agent and announced that he was going to GB News – despite the channel at the time only asking if he was interested in enjoying.

Eamonn also hit out at ITV’s diversity drive, branding his former bosses “hypocrites”.

Eamonn has taken aim at his former colleague Phil ( 
Image:
S Meddle/ITV/REX)
The presenter questioned: “When are they going to start being diverse with their management? The diversity is only on screen. It’s hypocritical.”

He went on to address Ruth’s famous behind the scenes feud with Phil after he cut her short in the middle of. segment for Loose Women in 2019.

Eamonn said: “Phillip is renowned for snubbing people.

Eamonn has called ITV ‘sly and hypocritical’ ( 
Image:
James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)“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.”

The Mirror has reached out to ITV for comment.

A spokesperson told the Daily Mail: “This isn’t a version of events we recognise and as we have said before we wish Eamonn all the very best.

“We are committed to improving representation both on and off screen and we publicly report on our progress against our commitments and targets.”