Audience reaction to Jack Whitehall’s Holly and Phil joke has people seriously divided

The audience reaction to Jack Whitehall's joke about Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield has left social media divided.

One of the biggest TV-talking points was of course, the rumoured 'feud' happening between the This Morning presenters.

From Eamonn Holmes talking about an interaction between Schofield and his wife to Piers Morgan coming to his defence, it's seems like everyone has had their say on the situation.

Whitehall appeared on the The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show on BBC One on Friday (19 May) and the comedian couldn’t resist diving into the controversy to make a quip about of the presenters.

ITV

Appearing on the BBC show with his father, Michael Whitehall, podcaster Rosie Ramsay said of their relationship: "You guys come across like you’ve got a lovely relationship."

Jack then seized the moment to say: “Behind closed doors it’s like Holly and Phil, we don’t speak to each other.”

Chris and the audience then gasp in response as Rosie clasps her hand dramatically over her mouth.

Jack, pretending to be unaware of the issue, says: “What? Oh, come on!”

And it seems a lot of social media users share his sentiments about the show audience's OTT reaction to the joke.

One Instagram user commented: "I think he held back quite a bit tbf," while another weighed in: "As if people actually reacted with such shock and horror to that."

And a third said: "Welcome to 2023’s version of an edgy joke."

TikTok/@bbc

Meanwhile, on Twitter, one person tweeted: "That’s as edgy as a circle."

And a second said: "Is mainstream comedy so tame now this is specifically cutting? I am completely out of that world I guess."

But not everyone shared that view on that joke or the comedian.

One Instagram user said of Whitehall: "Him and russell howard are far and away the unfunniest comedians."

And Scott Bryan, who originally shared the clip, said: "Well, that’s Jack Whitehall off the #ThisMorning guest list."

Which was met with the retort: "Willoughby tempted to appear on This Morning even if he is invited?"

Twitter

On 20 May, Schofield announced he was stepping down from the show.

He said that 'ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on' and that he was stepping down 'in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future'.

He continued: “I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story."

"Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind. I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love.”

Willoughby released her own statement after that, adding: "It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”