Inside the five biggest TV co-star feuds ever – from This Morning duo to The X Factor judges

Scottish Sun

03-05-2025

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WHILST TV is often known for broadcasting vicious feuds and almighty rows in their very best dramas - some shows often see their arguments spilling out between it's co-stars.
From This Morning to Dancing on Ice - plenty of programmes have seen their co-stars come to blows both on and off-screen.
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TV has produced a slew of long-standing feuds
Credit: Rex
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But can you recall them all
Credit: Rex
But can you recall all of TV's biggest and longest-running bust-ups?
The Sun has compiled a list of five of the most famous co-stars who ended up butting heads spectacularly.
Jason Gardiner and Karen Barber
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Jason and Karen had a vicious war of words on live TV
Credit: Rex Features
Dancing on Ice co-stars Jason Gardiner and Karen Barber infamously clashed during the time they shared on the ice-skating show.
Whilst they were famed for their bickering when they were both on the judging panel, the biggest row of all came in the form of an on-air spat when Karen was moved to work as the leading coach and was therefore no longer on the panel.
As Jason took aim at solider Johnson Beharry on the show, Karen stepped in to staunchly defend him.
As Karen hit back at Jason's suggestion there had only been a "slight" improvement and went on to explain what he had worked on during the week, Jason spat back: "Well, first of all Karen, if your opinion still mattered, you'd be on the panel."
The audience reacted in shock before Karen shouted "woah, woah, woah," before angrily walking over to Jason wagging her finger.
She then confronted him face-to-face at the judges desk and begged him to repeat what he said.
As boos rang out in the rink, Karen said to him: "You know, Jason, you really are so offensive.
"You bring to this panel so little - you really do!"
Holly Willoughby then defended Karen as she said her position was "justified".
Dannii Minogue and Sharon Osbourne
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Dannii and Sharon grew to heavily dislike one another
Credit: PA:Empics Sport
When Dannii was added to the X-Factor judging panel in the fourth series, the pair butted heads.
Sharon wrote in her 2013 autobiography: 'Outwardly, Dannii seemed all 'Ooh, I love kids and puppies'.
'But in my opinion, she was dark, very dark.'
On an episode of The Graham Norton Show in 2007, Sharon stated that Dannii was only a judge on the show because of her looks and made fun of her Botox.
When another guest asked what Minogue looked like, Sharon bent over and pointed at her bum.
Rachel Riley and Anne Robinson
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Countdown stars Rachel and Anne famously hated one another
The duo famously worked together on the Channel 4 show but were left flooded by reports that they did not get on and were embroiled in a huge backstage feud.
Anne began fronting the programme in 2021 but eventually quit after just a year in the role.
In an interview, 80-year-old Anne has admitted she did have to tell Rachel to "shut up" for being too talkative on-set during filming.
The star revealed Rachel would talk too much as she attempted to interview the day's contestants, forcing her to intervene.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Anne revealed: "Rachel was a bit talkative when I was interviewing the contestants but once we shut her up it was fine."
She further admitted that she was left riled up the wrong way by Rachel and fellow co-star Susie Dent's alleged lateness and noisiness whilst on-set.
Anne insisted on having the pair's microphones switched off during filming.
Anne added: "It was me wanting everyone to be quiet in the studio.
"I like everyone turning up on time and quiet, quiet, quiet. So we did have to iron that out. But that's it."
Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield
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Fern and Phil's once close partnership crumbled
The pair hosted the ITV daytime show together for years before Fern abruptly quit in 2009.
She then appeared to cut all ties with Phillip when she also walked out on fronting All Star Mr & Mrs and the British Soap Awards with him.
Last year, when speaking to the Daily Mail, Fern admitted the breakdown in friendship with Phil was the root cause of her departure.
When asked, she said: 'To leave This Morning? Ultimately, yes. I loved it and I would probably still be there if… Phillip and I were not getting on very well at that stage.'
Fern hasn't spoken to Schofield in the 16 years since, but has now made no secret of him being to blame for her exit.
While she stopped short of explaining what exactly went down to cause her to leave, she later added: "Lots of the men you work with are much more fussed about their piece to camera and how many words they've got than they are about you."
Fern has continued to be cautious about saying thing around Phillip and their fallout, saying before entering Celebrity Big Brother this year she was approaching the subject with 'caution and kindness'.
However, she added: "It's fair to say that towards the end we were not getting on. Things were tricky."
She later joked she 'might have to leave' if he was to walk into the house as a late housemate.
Craig Revel Horwood and James Jordan
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Craig and James have continued their spat after the show
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood and former pro dancer James Jordan famously clashed during their time working together and thereafter.
James was forever answering back to Craig and his criticism of he and his celeb partner's dance routines.
Even when James quit the show, their feud continued with the pair bickering once again over comments James made about eventual show winner, Rose Ayling-Ellis.
James found himself in hot water after branding fan-favourite Rose Ayling-Ellis as "average", despite her soaring through the competition.
The ex-Strictly pro scathed that he didn't feel any of this year's competitors "stood out", but particularly critiqued Rose's Frozen-themed Quickstep.
"Their dance was a perfect example of when the theme of the musical takes over from the quality of the dancing," he told readers of his Hello! magazine column.
But bitter enemy Craig, 56, has since hit back in disagreement with the star, calling his verdict "crazy" and heaping praise on EastEnder's actress Rose.
He told The Mirror: "I mean, that's just crazy, she's absolutely wonderful and I think she's incredible... So I completely disagree with him."
Craig went on to lash out at James, bringing up their age-old rivalry and slamming him as "desperate" to make it to the judging panel.
"I think he's obviously just trying to make headlines and get a job as a judge," he said. "He's always wanted that. He's desperate for my job, but he'll never get it."