Phillip Schofield has mentioned he has “misplaced all the things” and doesn’t see a future for his profession, in an emotional and frank interview with BBC Information.
After fleeing ready for the paparazzi exterior his home, he sat down with Amol Rajan to inform his aspect of the story.
Schofield mentioned his “profession is over” following the affair he had with a younger male colleague.
He mentioned the pair have been “not boyfriends” they usually solely had 5 – 6 romantic encounters over just a few months.
Nonetheless, Schofield mentioned the affair “was a grave error”, including: “I should not have completed it.”
The TV presenter appeared exhausted and distressed, and spoke quietly as he mentioned he was “desperately sorry”.
Questions have been raised about ITV’s dealing with of the scenario, how a lot bosses knew of the affair, and whether or not its personal investigation went far sufficient.
Following the controversy, Schofield mentioned he doubted he would return to a profession in TV. “I’ve to speak about tv prior to now tense, which breaks my coronary heart,” he mentioned. “I’ve misplaced all the things.
“What am I going to do with my days?” he continued. “I noticed nothing forward of me however blackness, and disappointment, and remorse, and regret, and guilt. I did one thing very unsuitable, after which I lied about it persistently.”
Referring to his former colleague, the 61-year-old mentioned: “He’s an harmless occasion right here. I used to be older, I ought to have recognized higher. [The affair] was consensual, nevertheless it was my fault.”
In an in depth interview in regards to the affair, Schofield instructed the BBC:
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His colleague was 20 years outdated when he first had any form of sexual contact with him
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He has had suicidal ideas, including that his daughters “have not left me for a second” for the reason that information of the affair broke
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The primary romantic encounter between Schofield and the person occurred in his ITV dressing room
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Schofield mentioned homophobia was a consider individuals who disapproved of their relationship, including: “If it was male-female then it would not be such a scandal”
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He added he understood individuals who thought there had been an abuse of energy, however mentioned it “did not really feel like that on the time”
Schofield paid tribute to his daughters, who he mentioned had helped him deal with suicidal ideas in latest days.
“Final week, if my daughters hadn’t been there, I would not be right here,” he mentioned. “They have been by my aspect each second as a result of they’re scared to let me out of their sight.”
Phillip Schofield: The complete interview
The previous This Morning presenter speaks about his affair and the following fall out, with the BBC’s Amol Rajan.
Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK Solely)
Schofield defined his first romantic encounter along with his colleague occurred in his dressing room, including there have been solely 5 – 6 such encounters in whole between the pair over just a few months.
“I totally recognize there’s a huge age hole, however that occurs in life. I feel there is a gigantic quantity of homophobia that occurs to be male, but when it was male-female then it would not be such a scandal, “Schofield mentioned.
His admission of the affair raised questions in regards to the steadiness of energy between the pair and whether or not or not Schofield had taken benefit of his place.
“I perceive that, and it is a very legitimate query to place to me,” Schofield mentioned. “If it is an abuse of energy, it is not in my nature to be that particular person, however in fact it may very well be perceived as that. However that wasn’t the way it felt on the time.”
ITV has instructed a barrister to hold out an exterior evaluate to ascertain the information about how ITV dealt with its personal investigation into rumors of the affair in 2020.
The community’s chief government Dame Carolyn McCall has been requested to attend the Tradition, Media and Sport Committee on 14 June to reply questions in regards to the broadcaster’s strategy to safeguarding following the controversy.
‘The lie acquired too large’
Schofield confirmed he first met the person – then a 15-year-old boy – when he was invited to look as a part of an occasion at a college drama a few years in the past.
He and the younger man started speaking on Twitter after they adopted one another following the occasion. Schofield mentioned he requested for recommendation on working within the TV trade.
The presenter characterised their communication as a “fully harmless backwards-and-forwards over a time frame, a few job, about careers”.
“What’s unsuitable with that?” he requested. “What’s unsuitable with speaking to somebody it doesn’t matter what age they’re, does that imply should you’re following anybody on Twitter that you do not give recommendation?”
He continued: “I’ve completed all of it my life. I am finest associates with the individuals who acquired me into tv, and I’ve at all times believed in paying it ahead, so I did not give it some thought.”
Schofield famous he follows 11,300 individuals on Twitter, which he now not makes use of, and there has by no means been “any whiff of impropriety” throughout his time on the social media platform.
When the pair met in particular person for the primary time for the reason that drama faculty occasion, Schofield mentioned there was “completely not” any trace of sexual attraction.
However Schofield mentioned their interactions turned romantic “just a few months” after the person began engaged on This Morning.
“We turned mates,” Schofield mentioned. “And, , you go across the studios, you hang around collectively, , chat to one another, that kind of stuff.
“In my dressing room someday, one thing occurred,” he mentioned. Characterizing the affair, Schofield mentioned: “I kissed somebody within the office, which led to a little bit bit extra.”
The TV presenter mentioned he acquired the person job on different exhibits he labored on “as a result of he was an excellent runner, and it is at all times good to have a group round you of individuals “.
He confirmed that his This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby “didn’t know” in regards to the affair, including: “No person knew.
“Rumors began, and you then lie. Once you’ve had a office fling, you lie about it,” he mentioned.
ITV beforehand mentioned it was questioned by stories of a relationship, however that each events had repeatedly denied it.
Requested how a lot his colleagues knew, Schofield mentioned: “No person ever requested me about being homosexual. When the rumors [about the affair] acquired greater, then we have been each requested.”
Requested if he beloved his former colleague, Schofield mentioned “No, we have been simply mates,” later including: “We weren’t boyfriends, we weren’t in a relationship.”
The TV presenter added he “completely didn’t” make the person signal a non-disclosure settlement and mentioned he could be free to talk to the media if he wished to.
Schofield added that, opposite to some press stories, the person was not usually taken by taxis between Schofield’s London house and the This Morning studios.
“He did not continuously come to my flat, he got here to the flat as soon as, to my recollection, he did not keep over,” he mentioned.
Schofield additionally denied he had organized for the person to be moved off This Morning to work on one other ITV daytime program when their relationship ended.
“Completely categorically not – he was a very good colleague and runner, excellent. He utilized to go to [another ITV programme] and acquired the job completely on his personal deserves,” he mentioned.
Final week, Schofield went public in regards to the affair, a choice he mentioned he took as a result of “the lie acquired too large for each of us”.
“It simply acquired monumental, and it crossed over from on-line to mainstream information, and that needed to cease, for his psychological well being,” he mentioned.
Earlier this week, Schofield was dropped as an envoy for the Prince’s Belief in gentle of the controversy, one thing the TV star mentioned “broke my coronary heart”.
Requested how his former colleague feels now, Schofield mentioned: “What he desires is for all of this [media coverage] to go away, he desires a quiet life, he did not need any of this to occur within the first place.”
Schofield mentioned he final spoke to him “a few weeks in the past” when he engaged authorized help for him, which he’s persevering with to pay for.
The TV presenter mentioned he was “massively involved” for the welfare of his former colleague, who he described as “weak”.
He denied stories that there was a poisonous setting on This Morning, in addition to claims that he had turn out to be too highly effective or was disagreeable to work with. “I am not impolite on the studio ground, I do not bully individuals,” he mentioned.
Schofield additionally emphatically denied a declare {that a} newspaper had completed a take care of him and his administration in 2019, the place the media retailers allegedly agreed to not write the story in regards to the younger man in return for the unique interview about him popping out as homosexual.
“Completely categorically unfaithful,” Schofield mentioned, including that he was inspired to do an interview with the Solar by a media advisor as a part of his announcement.
Schofield mentioned telling his spouse Stephanie Lowe about his affair “was essentially the most troublesome dialog I’ve ever needed to have together with her”.
He added: “She is extraordinarily dissatisfied as a result of I lied to her as nicely.”
Assist and help
When you’re affected by any of the problems on this article you’ll find particulars of organizations who can assist through the BBC Motion Line.
Phillip Schofield: The complete interview
The previous This Morning presenter speaks about his affair and the following fall out, with the BBC’s Amol Rajan.
Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK Solely)
