Phillip Schofield’s life after ITV exit – paying lover ‘six figures’, NDA and Holly text

Phillip Schofield’s life was completely turned around after his exit from ITV’s This Morning.

In 2023, it emerged Phillip had been having an affair with a younger male colleague who worked as a runner on the ITV show. The scandal sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and caused chaos for ITV.

Phil admitted he had lied to ITV, his management, his wife and his friends. He was dropped by his management and left ITV, but despite stepping away from TV, he’s remained in the spotlight.

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It’s recently been reported Phil paid his former male lover a hefty six figure sum. Daily Star has looked a Phil’s life since he left TV.

‘Do you want me to die?’

After the revelations of Phil’s affair, the presenter decided to tell details of his story to The BBC. Phil was interviewed by journalist Amol Rajan only days after his exit from ITV.

Phil, 61, admitted his affair with the younger member of staff was “unwise but not illegal” in his statement. In the interview, he insisted there was no sexual or romantic element to their relationship until the runner was 20 years old.

A tragic moment in the chat saw Phil admit suicidal thoughts while speaking about the devastating toll the scandal was having on his mental health. Discussing the criticism he was receiving, he asked: “Do you want me to die? Because that’s where I am.

“It is relentless, and it is day after day, after day after day. If you don’t think that that is going to have the most catastrophic effect on someone’s mind… do you want me to die? Because that’s where I am. I have lost everything.”

Huge payout

Although things have been bleak for Phil, it’s believed he received a six-figure “golden goodbye” fee from ITV. Last year it was reported Phil received over £300,000 from the broadcaster.

The large sum is equivalent to six months’ pay for the star. A source told The Sun: “Phil has been given his This Morning wages for six months — but if that was meant to make him feel better, it’s just not working.”

“Phil feels he has been shown zero respect and he is devastated by how this has played out. He thinks the way he was forced to step down was so unjust and he feels completely broken by how this situation has been handled.”

According to reports, Phillip Schofield was said to earn around £600,000 to £700,000 a year from his contract with This Morning. He also had other ventures with ITV.

Holly distances herself

The aftermath of Phil’s exit and his affair caused many well known faces to speak out about the presenter as well as his co-star Holly, who appears to have cut ties with her pal. Phil insisted Holly didn’t know about the affair at the time and that he texted his former co-star, but she didn’t respond.

Schofield said: “Holly did not know. And she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say, ‘I am so, so sorry that I lied to you’. “She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply, as well. So yeah. If anyone is in any way linking Holly to this; that is ­absolutely, wholly untrue.”

He revealed he told Holly not to respond: “The last time we had a conversation was when I texted Holly and said, ‘Don’t reply’ – this was after the statement last week – ‘Don’t reply, you’re probably not allowed to, but I am deeply deeply sorry that I lied to you.”

Eamonn feud

Presenter Eamonn Holmes who once hosted This Morning alongside his wife Ruth Langsford also had a lot to say on the matter at the time. The GB News host claimed Phil was ‘toxic’.

Schofield had slammed critics in a post on Instagram insisting there was “no toxicity” on the programme following claims that there were. He also seemed to swipe at those like Eamonn, writing: “I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.”

Eammonn hit back: “Schofield has just put out a delusional statement. Like Holly he puts it on Insta Stories so if it goes wrong there is no record after 24 hrs.

“I’m reluctant to give the liar any more publicity but believe me Pip if u r looking for a fight, u have picked on the wrong person!” He claimed to GB News presenter Dan Wootton that ITV ‘covered up’ Phil’s affair. “It’s a total cover-up.

“Those in authority had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge a bullet with this which they do and they do constantly.”

Referring to Schofield’s comments on Instagram, Holmes said: “I think that Phillip is absolutely right about toxicity. But my friend, the toxicity is not with me, Dan Wootton, or anyone else, the toxicity is with you.”

ITV review

Following the scandal, ITV underwent a review after it was accused of having a toxic work culture by some employees. The results from the review were published in December 2023.

The results found there was “no finding of a ‘toxic’ culture” at ITV programme This Morning, an external review has found, following allegations around Phillip Schofield and his relationship with the younger member of staff.

ITV claimed they made “considerable efforts” to determine the truth about the relationship between Phillip Schofield and the young runner. Kyla Mullins General Counsel and Company Secretary at ITV said in an email to staff: “There was a lot of unfair, inaccurate and damaging speculation about This Morning’s culture.

“The plc Board met with the KC this week and she told us there is no finding of a ‘toxic’ culture. And had there been one, I would have said so.”

Six-figure sum to lover

It’s recently been reported Phillip Schofield paid a six-figure sum to the younger male colleague he had an affair with. The payout came as part of an alleged deal including a non-disclosure agreement.

Lawyers for the TV presenter confirmed that the substantial payment covered the younger man’s legal costs and also included compensation for the loss of his job and home. The arrangement also included a mutual non-disclosure agreement.

A source said to be familiar with the NDA told The Mail on Sunday: “The young man has been fragile for some time. That is no secret, there was a payment made for various matters that followed Phillip’s decision to speak out about his relationship and as part of that, an NDA was arranged and signed.

“It means that Phil knows that his young ex will not ever be able to speak about their relationships so he can probably sleep a lot better at night now. He has lost a lot but imagine if the full details came out – it would be pretty cataclysmic for him.”

Support

Despite an avalanche of backlash when Phil’s scandal came to light from the likes of former This Morning star Eamonn Holmes and TV personality Kim Woodburn to name a few, he did also receive support. Following the scandal, Phil was seen enjoying an evening out with TV personality, Vanessa Feltz.

In the snaps, the pair were seen as they left the Little Bird restaurant in Chiswick, West London. Phil was seen helping his long-term friend into her car before departing on foot.

He’s also been supported by his family, including wife Stephanie Lowe, whom he was spotted out with earlier this month. In his BBC interview he said he has had an “incredibly supportive wife” and a “wonderful marriage”.

Schofield also revealed his daughters Molly and Ruby looked after him in his darkest moments. He said in his BBC interview: “My girls saved my life. They said last week they haven’t left me for a moment. They’ve been by my side every moment because they’re scared to let me out of their sight. What is that like for daughters to have to go with something like that?

“And they said to me, don’t you dare do this on our watch. We’re supposed to be looking after you. If my girls hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here, because I don’t see my future.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk