Phillip Schofield sat down for a tell-all interview with the BBC on Friday (June 2) following the news he had an affair with a young male colleague.
On Friday (May 26), the former This Morning presenter released a statement to Daily Mail and revealed he had an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a runner at ITV.
Since then, the 61-year-old has been axed from ITV and also been dropped by his talent agents at YMU.
READ MORE: Phillip Schofield says he has ‘lost everything’ and asks ‘do you want me to die’
When asked why he wanted to do the interview, Phillip said: “There is an innocent person here who didn’t do anything wrong. Who is vulnerable and probably feels like I do”.
Filled with several bombshells, Phillip shed light on the affair that has “ended” his 40 year career.
Never loved him
(Image: BBC)
Phil revealed his sexual relationship with the ITV employee began when the man was 20-years-old.
The former Dancing on Ice presenter revealed he first met the man when he was 15 at school, following him on Twitter where they briefly exchanged innocent messages about working in the industry.
Phillip insisted he never had any sexual relations with the man when he was underage and their messages online were career based only.
(Image: ITV)
After the runner started working at This Morning years later, Phillip said they had “five, maybe six” sexual encounters, adding: “Nothing more than that”.
The TV star explained their relationship “drifted” but Phillip continued landing him work because he was “a very good runner”.
When asked if he ever loved the man, Phil insisted: “No, we were just mates”.
Still friends
(Image: TNI PRESS LTD.)
After their brief relationship ended, Phillip admitted he remained friends with the young lad and revealed they are still friends even now.
“We still stayed mates. We’re still mates. We still stayed friendly,” he explained.
When asked when he last spoke to him, Phillip replied: “As I engaged the lawyer for him. He needed independent support and so that was the last time, a couple of weeks ago”.
End of career
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
After more than 40 years working in television, Phillip confirmed that he believes his career is over.
After the revelations, ITV said it was “deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit” made by their former star and confirmed it had cut all ties with the host.
Speaking in the interview, Phillip said: “I have brought myself down. I am done. I have to talk about television in the past tense which breaks my heart.”
“Where do you think your career goes from here?” he was asked, before simply responding: “Nowhere.”
Playtime Thursday’s
(Image: GB NEWS)
On Monday (May 29), former This Morning presenter Eammon Holmes sat down with Dan Wootton and claimed that Phillip and the ITV employee would go out and enjoy “playtime” on Thursday’s.
The GB News star said Phil would take his former lover back to his £1million flat in an exclusive block within the studios at White City, in West London.
He then said: “There are records to show that he was brought in the next day separately in cars paid for by ITV.”
(Image: BBC)
He told the New Zealand born broadcaster “Usually on a Friday morning, because Thursday was playtime when he and Phillip would hit the town and then he obviously stayed overnight.
Phillip has now slammed these claims however, saying: “He didn’t frequently come to my flat. He came to the flat once.
“From my recollection he didn’t stay over, he said he was passing and would come in for a beer.
“It’s utterly, utterly, utterly untrue. Also, I don’t have an ITV car account, presenters don’t get that.”
Suicidal thoughts
(Image: Instagram/ Philip Schofield)
After news of Phillip’s affair hit headlines, he admitted he felt like a victim of hate and considered taking his own life.
“Do you want me to die?” he asked. “Because that’s where I am. I have lost everything”.
The presenter revealed it was his daughter’s, Ruby and Molly, who saved his life after not letting him out of their sight.
“My girls saved my life,” he explained. “They haven’t left me for a moment because they’re scared to let me out of their sight.
(Image: PA)
“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 a future.
“How much do you want a man to take and are you truly only happy when he’s dead? This is how Caroline Flack felt and it didn’t stop.”
Phillip admitted he hasn’t looked at “a single thing” written about him, confirming that would be “the final push”.
Wife is ‘disappointed’
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Phillip’s affair took place before he separated from wife Stephanie Lowe, whom he married in 1993.
Despite their separation, the ex-ITV star has always been open about how supportive his wife was after he came out as gay.
‘We are separated but we are very much together,” he said.
“Let’s just say it was an incredibly difficult conversation. The most difficult conversation I’ve ever had to have with her and she is extremely disappointed because I lied to her as well.
“But she wished me well today, so we’ll see”.
Last text to Holly Willoughby
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Since first presenting This Morning together in 2009, Phillip became best friends with co-host Holly Willoughby.
In recent months, feud rumours have swirled the pair and the dad-of-two admitted the 42-year-old never replied to his last text.
He explained: “I WhatsApped her on the day that I put the statement up and I said to her, ‘I know you can’t reply. You’re probably not allowed to but I am so desperately, desperately sorry.
“I adore Holly. She is my TV sister and know I don’t have a problem with her at all.”
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
