The former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes has claimed Philip Schofield was sacked from the programme rather than stepping down.

Schofield announced he was quitting the ITV show after two decades on Saturday "with immediate effect", following weeks of speculation over backstage rows between him and his former co-host Holly Willoughby.

The show returned to Britain's screens on Monday morning, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary paying a teary tribute.

Hammond said Schofield was "one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had", and mentioned that Willoughby had taken an early half-term break until June 5.

O'Leary said of Schofield: "Everyone on and off screen at ITV and This Morning want to say a huge thank you to Phil for what he's done to make the show such a success over the last 21 years."

But Holmes, who hosted This Morning for 15 years with his wife Ruth Holmes until 2021, cast doubt on the 61-year-old's statement that he had "agreed to step down".

"Oh please just stop this. He was sacked. All this nonsense of 'I've decided to step down'. I’m sure you did - here’s your P45 now step down," Holmes claimed on GB News on Monday morning.