ITV have announced an external review of how they handled Phillip Schofield’s affair with a younger man.
Over the weekend, the 61-year-old released a statement to The Daily Mail, in which he revealed he and the man struck up a relationship which was more than a friendship, describing it as “unwise but not illegal”.
The relationship in question occurred while Phillip was still married to his wife of 30 years – Stephanie Lowe.
Phillip parted ways with ITV and his management agency YMU altogether – just days after announcing his immediate departure from This Morning.
After the TV personality’s statement came to light, rumours swirled that ITV had known about his affair with a younger man.
The broadcaster later addressed the rumours in a statement, which read: “Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.”
“Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.”
“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour,” the spokesperson for ITV continued.
“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”
In a new letter, seen by the PA news agency, ITV’s Dame Carolyn McCall instructed a barrister to carry out an external review of the facts surrounding their handling of Phillip’s affair.
Dame Carolyn wrote: “You will have seen the significant media coverage concerning Phillip Schofield.”
“As you would expect we take the matter extremely seriously and have reviewed our own records over the weekend,” Dame Carolyn continued.
“Given the ongoing rumours, we continued to ask questions of both parties, who both continued to deny the rumours, including as recently as this month.”
“There has been a lot of inaccuracy in the reporting so I thought it would be useful to set out some facts.”
The letter was sent to Culture Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage and Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes.
Last Friday, Phillip confessed that he lied about the relationship to ITV, his colleagues, his friends and his agents at YMU.
The TV personality also confessed to lying to The Mail on Sunday, which published the story earlier this month.
The 61-year-old’s statement read: “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.”
“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’t been truthful about the relationship,” Phillip’s statement continued.
“But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now.”
Phillip continued: “I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.”
The 61-year-old also revealed that he has quit ITV altogether, stating: “I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.”
“I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it,” the 61-year-old continued.
“To protect his privacy, I am not naming this individual and my deepest wish is that both he and his family can now move on with their lives free from further intrusion, and that this statement will enable them to do so. I ask the media now to respect their privacy. They have done nothing wrong, and I ask that their privacy should be respected.”
Phillip has also parted ways with his management team YMU after 35 years.
Mary Bekhait, the Group CEO 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,” Ms Bekhait continued. “These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him.”
“As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect.”
The news came just days after Phillip announced his departure from This Morning with immediate effect amid his ongoing “feud” with Holly Willoughby.
Earlier this month, the 61-year-old said in a statement: “I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.”
“Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind.”
“I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love. So, I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future.”
“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me – especially This Morning’s amazing viewers – and I’ll see you all for the Soap Awards next month,” Phillip added.
Holly then said in a statement: “Hi guys. It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.”
She added: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”
