Phillip Schofield has admitted to an affair with a younger man in an unprecedented statement released tonight (May 26).
The former This Morning host said that he had a “consensual on/off relationship with a younger male colleague” on the ITV show.
He admitted lying to friends, colleagues, his family and his employers about the affair.
Phillip Schofield statement in full
In a statement released to the Daily Mail he said: “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.”
He then added: “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.”
Phil on coming out
He then continued: “When I chose to come out I did so entirely for my own wellbeing. Nobody forced me out. Neither I nor anyone else, to my knowledge, has ever issued an injunction, super or otherwise, about my relationship with this colleague. He was never moved on or sacked by or because of me.
“In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven’
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