Phillip Schofield ‘could be approached by BBC bosses with an offer worth MILLIONS as his golden handcuffs deal with ITV comes to an end in 2021’
BBC bosses are reportedly planning to offer Phillip Schofield a big-money deal to try and lure him away from rivals ITV.
Sources have claimed the veteran presenter, 58, is being eyed by bosses as his ‘golden handcuffs’ deal with ITV will be coming to an end in 2021.
Phil is thought to be one of the highest-earning presenters on TV with a salary of around £1 million a year, mainly thanks to his jobs hosting This Morning and Dancing On Ice.
Cashing in: BBC bosses are reportedly planning to offer Phillip Schofield, 58, a big-money deal to try and lure him away from rivals ITV
According to The Sun, ITV are expected to put up a fight to keep Phil, as it would bring an end to his long-standing This Morning partnership if he chose to leave the channel.
A source said: ‘He’s become a prime target for the BBC who think he would be the perfect face for a number of new shows. His contract with ITV ends in 2021 so the BBC want to start a conversation.
‘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.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Phillip Schofield and BBC for comment, with a BBC spokesperson stating: ‘There is absolutely no truth in this and no discussions have taken place.’
Ending? Sources claimed the presenter is being eyed by bosses as his ‘golden handcuffs’ deal with ITV is set to end in 2021 (pictured with Holly Willoughby on This Morning in March 2020)
Phillip began his career on the BBC as the host of its children’s counterpart, introducing programmes alongside Gordon the Gopher following by the Saturday morning series Going Live!
He landed his first ITV series Talking Telephone Numbers in 1994, and made his first appearance on This Morning in 2002 alongside Fern Britton.
When Fern left the show in 2009 she was replaced by Holly Willoughby, and their partnership has gone down in TV history.
Throwback: Phillip began his career on the BBC as the host of its children’s counterpart, introducing programmes alongside Gordon the Gopher
Legendary: He made his first appearance on This Morning in 2002 alongside Fern Britton, who left the daytime programme in 2009
Phillip also co-hosts Dancing On Ice with Holly, and also presents the game show 5 Gold Rings and the annual British Soap Awards.
In February Phillip publicly came out as gay in an emotional This Morning interview, earning universal praise from viewers.
The veteran presenter has been married to wife Stephanie Lowe since 1993 and the couple have two daughters together – Molly, 27, and Ruby, 24.
Dynamic duo: He hosts Dancing On Ice and This Morning alongside Holly Willoughby (pictured in March 2020)