Phillip Schofield, the former This Morning presenter, has declared that his television career is effectively over following the revelation of his affair with a younger man. The 61-year-old resigned from ITV recently after confessing to his “biggest sorriest secret,” describing the relationship as “unwise but not illegal.” Schofield expressed his remorse in his first interview since leaving the network, stating, “I have brought myself down. I am done. I have to talk about television in the past tense, which breaks my heart.”
Schofield emphasized the crucial support he received from his daughters, revealing that he might not have been able to cope with the situation without their unwavering backing. “They’ve guarded me and won’t let me out of their sight,” he acknowledged. Despite finding the interview distressing, Schofield felt compelled to speak out because an innocent person, his former lover, had been unfairly implicated. He pleaded, “I just have to say, ‘stop with him. OK with me. But stop with him, leave him alone now.’”
The ex-presenter referred to his former partner, whom he encountered when the man was just 15 years old and attending drama school. Schofield clarified that their initial interaction on Twitter was entirely innocent, motivated by the fact that the boy was a fan. He adamantly denied flirting with the boy and claimed minimal contact until the man began working at ITV at the age of 20 or 21, after which their affair began. Schofield admitted his grave mistake, accepting full responsibility for the situation and acknowledging his failure to exercise better judgment.
Having seen the interview with #PhillipSchofield it’s obvious he’s sorry for his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair.
It’s also apparent he is still protecting the runner and laying the blame squarely on himself.
Unless he did anything illegal it’s time to move on. #ThisMorning pic.twitter.com/hubMStyxVn
— Mark Scales (@IndeedItsMark) June 2, 2023
Regarding the impact on his mental state, Schofield expressed the devastating effects of constant negative press coverage and online speculation. He revealed, “If you don’t think that’s going to have the most catastrophic effect on someone’s mind, what do you – do you want me to die? Because that’s where I am. I have lost everything.”
When questioned about the failure of an internal ITV investigation to uncover the affair, Schofield acknowledged the possibility that both parties involved had lied. However, he expressed his willingness to cooperate with a barrister’s external review of the facts. Responding to skepticism about his credibility, Schofield maintained that only his friends and family needed to be concerned with believing him.
On a final note, Schofield extended his apologies to those he deceived, particularly his former lover. He expressed deep remorse and vowed never to forgive himself. As he faces the consequences, his future in television remains uncertain, leaving him with a sense of sadness and regret.
