Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary pay tribute to This Morning’s Phillip Schofield
Phillip Schofield has been dropped by his agent after the TV host admitted to lying about an affair with a This Morning employee.
The news comes a week after he quit the series with immediate effect amid reports of a “feud” with his co-star, Holly Willoughby.
His sudden departure sparked speculation from both viewers and public figures including former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes, and former Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan.
On Friday (26 May), Schofield said: “It is with the most profound regret that after 35 years of being faultlessly managed by YMU I have agreed to step down from their representation with immediate effect.”
He then released a statement to the Daily Mail, explaining that he had an “unwise” but “consensual on-off relationship with someone working on This Morning” while he was married.
“In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven’t been truthful about the relationship,” Schofield continued, saying he had come forward with his story as his “recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him”
Schofield, who revealed he has officially cut ties with ITV altogether, added: “For his sake it is important for me to be honest now.”
Phillip Schofield admits to lying about affair with This Morning colleague
Phillip Schofield has stepped down from ITV after admitting lying about an affair with a colleague on This Morning.
The presenter has also been dropped by his agency, less than a week after he dramatically quit the show he presented alongside Holly Willoughby amid rumours of a feud between the two.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Schofield said: “I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
“In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven’t been truthful about the relationship.”
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 19:10
Phillip Schofield’s statement in full
“I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
“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 to 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.
Read the full statement here.
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 20:15
Phillip Schofield is dropped by his agents
Phillip Schofield’s agency confirmed it has “parted company” with the presenter.
Mary Bekhait, the group chief executive of YMU Group, said: “Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do.
“Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.
“This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield.
“These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisers we had brought in to support him.
“As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect.”
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 19:45
Is there anything more British than Holly and Phil’s frosty fallout?
We say to colleagues that we’ll miss them, says the Very British Problems author Rob Temple, but what we really mean is, “thank God they’re gone and I’ve now got their parking space”.
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 18:08
ITV denies Eamonn Holmes’ claim about Phillip Schofield’s This Morning exit
While speaking on GB News, former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes said: “Oh please, just stop this. [Schofield] was sacked. All this nonsense of ‘I’ve decided to step down’. I’m sure you did – ‘here’s your P45 now step down’.”
However, in a statement to The Independent, an ITV spokesperson said: “Phillip Schofield’s decision to step down from This Morning was (as his statement made clear) a decision agreed between Phillip and ITV.”
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 12:00
Piers Morgan decries daytime TV ‘weasels’ and ‘two-faced wastrels’ for Phillip Schofield exit
Days after Phillip Schofield’s exit from This Morning, Piers Morgan reacted to Schofield’s “brutal” dethroning in a scathing column for The Sun.
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 11:15
Phillip Schofield’s family remain silent after shock ITV departure
Phillip Schofield’s family has so far remained silent after his sudden departure from This Morning.
The presenter’s two daughters Molly and Ruby Schofield, and his estranged wife Stephanie Lowe have not yet publically addressed the 61-year-old’s shock departure from the show.
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 09:57
From Piers Morgan to Eamonn Holmes: The celebrities who weighed in on Phillip Schofield’s This Morning exit.
Jacob Stolworthy26 May 2023 09:20
Voices: Is there anything more British than Holly and Phil’s frosty fallout?
We say to colleagues that we’ll miss them, says the Very British Problems author Rob Temple, but what we really mean is, “thank God they’re gone and I’ve now got their parking space”.
Peony Hirwani25 May 2023 08:00
From Piers Morgan to Eamonn Holmes: The celebrities who weighed in on Phillip Schofield’s This Morning exit
Peony Hirwani25 May 2023 07:00