Vanessa Feltz awkwardly reacts live on air to Phillip Schofield’s affair confession
Vanessa Feltz reacted awkwardly to her This Morning co-star Phillip Schofields affair after breaking the news live on her radio show.
Phillip, 61, confessed to having an “ill-advised but not illegal” relationship with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe, and previously denied the affair when asked by his agent.
Vanessa, who regularly appears on This Morning alongside Phillip and Holly Willoughby, was hosting her TalkTV show when news of his statement broke.
She announced his bombshell affair live while speaking to her guest Nigel Pauley, who said, “If a cop drops someone and uses the words honesty and integrity, it’s not good”
Vanessa added: “They’ve done nothing to harm members of the public, they’ve just hosted a daytime television show so I feel it’s only right to say that as I really think so and I know them both and may she both.’
Tense: Vanessa Feltz reacted awkwardly to her This Morning co-star Phillip Schofields affair after breaking the news live on her radio show
Confession: Phillip, 61, confessed to having the ‘ill-advised but not illegal’ relationship with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe, previously denying the affair when asked by his agent
On Friday, Phillip admitted in a lengthy statement that he had had an affair with a younger male colleague, which he said was “unwise but not illegal,” in which he also apologized to his wife and family.
The “ill-advised” relationship took place during his nearly 30-year marriage to wife Stephanie, 59, and Phillip said he was “so sorry” about being unfaithful.
Stephanie, who shares two children Ruby, 27, and Molly, 29, with Phillip, issued a statement when her husband came out as gay in a touching This Morning segment in 2020.
Phillip quit his This Morning hosting duties last weekend after more than 20 years on the air before confirming the affair in a statement to the Daily Mail on Friday.
He has also resigned from ITV and will not present the British Soap Awards.
He has also been dropped “effective immediately” by his agents at YMU.
In a statement, the former ITV presenter said: “I am making this statement through the Daily Mail, to whom I have already personally apologized for being misled, through my lawyer who I have also misled, about a story [sic] that they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
“The first thing I want to say is, I am deeply sorry that I lied to them and to many others about a relationship I had with someone who worked on This Morning.
“I did have a consensual on and off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
Contrary to speculation, while I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him get on television, it wasn’t until after he started working on the show that it became more than just a friendship.
That relationship was ill-advised, but not illegal. It’s over now…
“I am painfully aware that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore to the public and especially my family. I am very sorry, just like that I have been unfaithful to my wife…
“I resign from ITV with immediate effect and express my immense gratitude to them for all the wonderful opportunities they have given me.
“I will reflect on my very poor judgment in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.”
Following his statement, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply disappointed by Phillip Schofield’s admissions of cheating tonight.
“The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Philip gave us assurances which he now admits were untrue and we feel very let down.
Vanessa, who regularly appears on This Morning alongside Phillip and Holly Willoughby, said: “They have done nothing to harm members of the public, they have only presented a daytime television show so I feel it is only right to say that because I really think so and I know them both and like them both.”
Admission: Phillip confessed to having an ‘ill-advised but not illegal’ romance with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe, previously denying the affair when asked by his agent
“We accept his resignation from ITV and can therefore confirm that he will not appear on ITV as previously stated.”
Following his statement, Phillip also parted ways with his YMU management team after 35 years.
Mary Bekhait, the Group CEO of YMU Group, said, “Honesty and integrity are core values for the entire business of YMU, guiding everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.
“This week we learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield.
“These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the outside consultants we engaged to support him.
“That’s why we agreed on Thursday to say goodbye to Phillip with immediate effect.”
After quitting This Morning last weekend, Phillip was still set to host the British Soap Awards for the 13th consecutive year, but he will no longer do so after leaving ITV altogether.
The broadcaster has not yet confirmed who will host next Saturday’s event in place of 61-year-old Phillip, but bookmakers have tipped Joel Dommett as the favorite to take over.
Following its announcement, ITV said the British Soap Awards will still take place in Manchester on June 3, with a replacement host to be confirmed ‘in due course’.
An ITV spokesperson said: ‘The British Soap Awards will take place next Saturday as scheduled and we will make further announcements in due course.’
While an official replacement has not yet been confirmed, Joel Dommett is the bookmakers’ favorite to take over the hosting gig, followed by Dermot O’Leary.
Host: After leaving This Morning last week, Phillip was still set to host the British Soap Awards for the 13th consecutive year, but he will no longer be doing so after leaving ITV
Bookmakers Coral placed Joel, 37, host of The Masked Singer UK, at 1/2 chance to host the Soap Awards, closely followed by This Morning’s Dermot, 50, at 5/2.
Other presenters in the running are according to Coral Bradley Walsh, Alison Hammond and Vernon Kay.
Coral’s John Hill said: ‘Joel Dommett is at the top of our bet to replace Philip Schofield as host of the British Soap Awards 2023. ITV probably sees him as the perfect fit as he is now one of the channel’s most popular presenters.
“Dermot O’Leary and Vernon Kay are both names that have received a lot of support, while Mo Giligan could be in the mix after his experience at the Brit Awards.”