What Happened to Phillip Schofield on This Morning? Why did Phillip Schofield Leave? Phillip Schofield What did He do?
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Jun 06, 2023
What Happened to Phillip Schofield on This Morning?
Phillip Schofield made a surprising announcement on May 20, 2023, declaring that he would immediately step down as the co-host of This Morning. This decision came amidst ongoing reports of a growing conflict and shortly after he issued a statement confessing to having deceived his colleagues. The revelation followed allegations of an extramarital affair with a younger male employee of ITV. With his admission of the affair and subsequent cover-up, Schofield officially parted ways with ITV and resigned from his final public commitment, the British Soap Awards.
Initially, it was reported that Holly Willoughby would carry on as the sole host. However, it was soon revealed that she would be joined by a rotation of co-hosts, including Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford, and Alison Hammond.
Schofield's departure was a shocking development for both avid viewers of the show and his colleagues at ITV. His announcement came after weeks of speculation about his future on the program, fueled by rumors of a strained relationship with Willoughby. Shortly after his departure was made public, reports emerged suggesting that Schofield had been dissatisfied with the show's format and production for quite some time.
Moreover, Schofield's exit coincided with allegations of an affair with a younger male employee at ITV. In a statement, he confessed to having lied to his colleagues and fans about his personal life, expressing remorse for the pain he had caused. His admission garnered mixed reactions, as some commended his decision to come clean, while others criticized him for not being honest from the outset.
Since resigning from ITV, Schofield has maintained a low profile, leaving his future plans uncertain. Nonetheless, this moment marks the end of an era for This Morning, as Schofield had been an integral part of the show for over fifteen years.
Why Did Phillip Schofield Leave?
Phillip Schofield has decided to completely sever ties with ITV after stepping down from his role as a presenter on This Morning. In a statement, the former co-host confirmed that he had been involved in an intermittent relationship with a fellow colleague.
However, what exactly led to Phillip Schofield's actions being considered wrong? The 61-year-old openly admitted to having engaged in an affair with a younger male employee at ITV. While it is often discouraged for individuals to date their coworkers, it is not illegal.
ITV expressed deep disappointment over Schofield's admission of deceit and later disclosed that an investigation into the relationship between the two had been conducted in 2020. However, both parties denied any involvement at the time. Schofield himself acknowledged that he had lied to the management of This Morning and to his wife regarding the affair.
Schofield clarified in the statement that he had met the individual in question when they were a teenager and had been asked to assist them in pursuing a career in television. However, he emphasized that their relationship only developed after the colleague began working on the show. It is important to note that Schofield was still married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe, during the course of the relationship.
In his statement, Schofield expressed deep remorse, stating, "The first thing I want to convey is my profound apologies for lying to them and to many others about my relationship with someone working on This Morning. I did engage in an intermittent consensual relationship with a younger male colleague on This Morning."
Contrary to speculations, Schofield emphasized that his decision to come out was solely for his own well-being and that no one had forced him to do so. He clarified that to his knowledge, no injunction or similar legal action had been taken regarding his relationship with the colleague, and the colleague had never been dismissed or relocated because of their connection.
In an effort to protect his former colleague, Schofield had not been forthcoming about the relationship. However, with his recent departure from This Morning unrelated to the affair, speculation and questions arose, negatively impacting the colleague. For their sake, Schofield emphasized the importance of now being honest.
Before his confession, Phillip decided to resign from his position on This Morning amidst rumors of a strained relationship with his co-host, Holly Willoughby. Phillip clarified later on that his departure from the show was not connected to his extramarital affair.
Phillip Schofield What Did He Do?
In May 2023, Phillip Schofield, a renowned British television presenter, made a startling revelation of engaging in an extramarital affair with a male ITV employee who was more than three decades younger than him. Following his admission, Schofield tendered his resignation from ITV, expressing remorse for his deception and characterizing the relationship as "consensual" but "unwise" without crossing any legal boundaries. ITV confirmed conducting an investigation into the rumors surrounding Schofield and the employee in early 2020, during which both parties had repeatedly denied the existence of the affair.
Schofield's initial encounter with the individual occurred many years ago when he was invited to participate in an event at a drama school. At the time, the person was merely 15 years old. Schofield clarified that their affair began when the employee turned 20, while Schofield himself was in his mid-50s.
The revelation of Schofield's affair came as a shock to many, considering his previous image as a family-friendly personality. He had been married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe, for 27 years, and they share two daughters.
The disclosure of Schofield's affair has caused a scandal in the UK, with some criticizing his actions. However, others have commended him for his honesty and for publicly embracing his homosexuality. The impact of this scandal on Schofield's career remains uncertain. He has stated that he is taking a hiatus and is unsure about what the future holds.
Phillip Schofield Statement
Phillip Schofield issued a lengthy statement on Friday, May 26, admitting to having "lied" about an affair with an employee of This Morning. His confession came less than a week after his departure from the show and subsequent severance of ties with ITV, where he had been associated for over 20 years.
In his statement, Schofield expressed his apologies to the Daily Mail, personally and through his lawyer, for providing misleading information regarding a story they had intended to publish. He stated, "The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others, about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise but not illegal. It is now over."
Schofield clarified that his decision to publicly come out was solely for his personal well-being and that no external pressure compelled him to do so. He emphasized that to his knowledge, neither he nor anyone else had taken legal action, such as an injunction, concerning his relationship with the colleague. Additionally, he stated that the colleague had never been dismissed or relocated because of their connection. Schofield admitted that he had not been truthful about the relationship in an effort to protect his former colleague. However, due to the speculation and questions raised following his departure from This Morning, he felt it was important to now be honest for the colleague's sake.
Schofield expressed deep remorse for having deceived his employers at ITV, colleagues, friends, agents, the media, and most importantly, his family. He offered heartfelt apologies for both lying and being unfaithful to his wife. As a result, he decided to step down from his last public commitment, the British Soap Awards, and resign from ITV with immediate effect. He expressed immense gratitude to the network for the incredible opportunities they had provided him. He acknowledged his significant lapse in judgment for engaging in the relationship and subsequently lying about it and expressed a willingness to reflect on his actions.
In order to safeguard his privacy, I have chosen not to disclose the identity of this individual. My utmost desire is for him and his family to be able to progress and lead their lives without any further interference. I kindly request the media to honor their privacy. They have committed no wrongdoing, and it is crucial that their privacy is upheld and respected
What Happened to Phillip Schofield on This Morning - FAQs
Phillip Schofield stepped down from This Morning following reports of a rift with his co-host, Holly Willoughby.
Yes, Phillip Schofield confessed to having an extramarital affair with a younger male ITV employee.
ITV expressed deep disappointment over Schofield's admission of deceit and confirmed that they had conducted an investigation into the relationship.
Schofield had been associated with ITV for over 20 years before his departure from This Morning.
Schofield has mentioned taking some time off and has not disclosed specific details about his future plans.