Phillip Schofield appears glum while leaving West London pub – as he unfollows ‘ex-BFF’ Holly Willoughby on Instagram and she prepares for first National Television Awards without him

Phillip Schofield appeared glum as he left a West London pub after unfollowing his former best friend Holly Willoughby on Instagram ahead of tonight’s National Television Awards.

The broadcaster was spotted outside The Roebuck in Chiswick on Sunday – home of a £28 roast beef dish – where he is said to have enjoyed a three-hour lunch.

Schofield, wearing a grey t-shirt, blue shorts, blue trainers and sunglasses, was seen standing on the pavement alone, checking his phone, before getting into a black car.

Former co-host Willoughby will be at the NTA ceremony at London’s O2 without Schofield for the first time, after he resigned from This Morning earlier this year over an ‘unwise but not illegal’ relationship with a younger male colleague.

It emerged today that Schofield has unfollowed Willoughby on the social media platform, but not her sister, Kelly, in a further sign of their fractured relationship.

Phillip Schofield appeared glum as he left a West London pub after unfollowing his former best friend Holly Willoughby on Instagram ahead of tonight’s National Television Awards

The broadcaster was spotted outside The Roebuck in Chiswick on Sunday – home of a £28 roast beef dish – where he is said to have enjoyed a three-hour lunch

Schofield, wearing a grey t-shirt, blue shorts, blue trainers and sunglasses, was seen standing on the pavement alone, checking his phone, before getting into a black car

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in happier times on ITV’s This Morning on February 2

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby at the NTAs at Wembley Arena on October 13 last year

However, Willoughby still follows Schofield, who has become something of a pariah in the celebrity world following the scandal.

Schofield, 61, and Willoughby, 42, had been longlisted for the best TV presenter prize at the NTAs, alongside fellow This Morning hosts Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary, Rylan Clark and Martin Lewis, but only Hammond and Lewis made the cut.

Willoughby is said to be determined to lead This Morning to defend its title, although she failed to make the shortlist for best presenter for the second year in a row. 

It comes after the pair faced boos from the crowd at last year’s NTAs at Wembley Arena in London following the scandal in which they appeared to skip the queue to see the Queen lying in state.

Yesterday, Willoughby and Hammond returned to the ITV show, opening it in a cringeworthy outdoor segment alongside the cast of Mamma Mia! The Party.

The stage performers entertained with a medley of Abba classic songs, including Dancing Queen, SOS and title track Mamma Mia, while This Morning stars including Gyles Brandreth, James Martin and Alice Beer danced in the crowd.

Willoughby said: ‘It is such a good way to start the show. Now, we are back from our summer break but it’s not just the start of the new season for our show, for many people out there today is the first day of school.’

Speaking about her own children’s return to school, she added: ‘All good, except we all opened the window today and went ‘Oh summer decided to arrive today’.’

At the NTAs tonight, Hammond and Lewis will compete against Ant and Dec as well as The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman and The Chase’s Bradley Walsh.

This Morning, which has been on a winning streak in the daytime category for the last number of years, is up against The Chase, Loose Women and The Repair Shop. 

Comedian and TV presenter Joel Dommett will return for the third year as host of the NTAs, which will be broadcast live tonight from 8pm on ITV1. 

Former co-host Willoughby will be at the NTA ceremony at London’s O2 without Schofield for the first time, after he resigned from This Morning earlier this year over an ‘unwise but not illegal’ relationship with a younger male colleague

It emerged today that Schofield has unfollowed Willoughby on the social media platform, but not her sister, Kelly, in a further sign of their fractured relationship

However, Willoughby still follows Schofield, who has become something of a pariah in the celebrity world following the scandal

Schofield, 61, and Willoughby, 42, had been longlisted for the best TV presenter prize at the NTAs , alongside fellow This Morning hosts Alison Hammond , Dermot O’Leary , Rylan Clark and Martin Lewis , but only Hammond and Lewis made the cut

Schofield checks his phone as he waits outside The Roebuck in Chiswick on Sunday

The presenter put his hand in his pocket as he stood on the pavement in the sun

Schofield wore casual summer clothes as he was seen outside the pub in West London

Schofield has not worked in TV since admitting he lied over a relationship with a younger colleague

Dame Deborah James and Paul O’Grady have both been posthumously recognised in the nominations, with Dame Deborah named in the authored documentary category, for Bowelbabe In Her Own Words.

Dame Deborah set up the Bowelbabe cancer research fund, and died last year at the age of 40 after suffering from bowel cancer.

Her documentary will compete against Rob Burrow: Living With MND, Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now and Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction.

TV presenter and comedian O’Grady, who died earlier this year, has also been nominated in the factual entertainment category for his show For The Love Of Dogs.

It will go up against Clarkson’s Farm, Sort Your Life Out and The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.