Philip Schofield’s young lover ‘quaffed champagne’ with ITV’s ‘top talent’

Phillip Schofield’s young lover left ITV’s senior staff surprised when he drank champagne alongside the channel’s brightest stars and then joined This Morning on stage at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The low-level production assistant – who was in her 20s – was on stage with Holly Willoughby as she accepted the National Television gong for best daytime show in 2018.

He also appeared on the VIP riverboat organized by ITV director Emma Gormley, who had arranged to take the ‘talent’ up the Thames from the broadcaster’s headquarters to the O2 Arena, where the awards took place.

A former member of staff said, “You should have seen him there, drinking champagne. It was a treat for the talent and the very high-ups — not the junior production assistants.”

The privileged entry came despite many of his superiors not being invited to celebrate the award.

It comes after 61-year-old Phillip admitted his TV career is over and he’s been shunned by Holly

Phillip Schofield said he’s ‘broken and embarrassed’ but not a trimmer in his first interview since admitting to an affair

The showing has raised questions that ITV director Emma Gormley knew about a close relationship between Schofield and his much younger lover.

And Holly Willoughby’s statements that she knew nothing about the relationship have also been called into question after the pair were also seen talking outside the event two years earlier.

It comes after a bombshell interview from Schofield, where the presenter explained how he messaged his former co-presenter to say he was ‘so, so sorry’ that he had lied to her about his ‘unwise, but not illicit’ relationship with the man who is 34 years younger than him.

But he denied grooming a younger colleague before their fling and revealed he is suicidal, telling critics, “Do you want me to die?” Because that’s where I am.

The 61-year-old announcer also shared how Holly Willoughby distanced herself from him when his pedophile brother was jailed and confirmed they stopped speaking after he left ITV, although he admitted she may have been ostracized.

He said: “I texted her the day I released the statement. I said you don’t have to answer, you probably can’t, but I want to say I’m very sorry,” added Holly, who is currently on holiday in Portugal, did not reply.

But shortly after Schofield confessed to texting her begging for forgiveness, Willoughby’s social media team took to Instagram to share a blasé post about hair care — without mentioning Phil or his apology.

The former presenter apologized to his family, friends and ITV viewers for lying about the affair, but insisted much of the criticism directed at him since his departure from This Morning has been homophobic. He also told of a “catastrophic effect” on his mind.

He revealed that he texted former co-presenter Holly Willoughby begging forgiveness for his lies about This Morning affair, but she never replied.

The young man was invited to such an exclusive gathering, confirming the fact that Emma Gormley (pictured) and others must have known that he and Schofield were close.

Willoughby will reportedly be joined by two co-hosts when she returns to the couch on Monday.

It’s rumored she’ll be joined by Craig Doyle, 52, on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s shows, after Josie Gibson, 38, sits next to her on Monday’s and Tuesday’s episodes.

“Josie’s bubbly personality is just what the show needs to recover from a few weeks of nightmare,” an insider said. the sun.

She is larger than life and will ease the pressure on Holly, who viewers will be glued to after the loss of her old television partner.

Craig is in line too and it’s a sign that the regular role is there for the taking. Viewers immediately accepted him and he is not only pleasing to the eye, but he is also a natural in front of the camera.’

It comes after Phillip, 61, admitted his TV career is over and he’s been shunned by Holly – who responded with an Instagram post about how to ‘keep your hair safe all summer long’.

In his first broadcast interview since the scandal broke, the presenter explained how he messaged his former co-presenter to say he was “so, so sorry” that he had lied to her about his “unwise, but not illegal” relationship with the man who is 34 years younger than him.

But he denied grooming a younger co-worker before their fling and revealed that he is suicidal saying, “Do you want me to die?” Because that’s where I am.’

On Friday, Alison burst into tears on This Morning when she admitted it was “really painful” to watch Phillip Schofield be interviewed about his affair.

Portugal was where mother-of-three Holly spent the holidays with her family this week

The presenter, 48, who co-headlined the show with Dermot O’Leary during the fallout from the scandal, said the ‘family’ at ITV was really struggling to process everything.

She said her late mother Maria, who died in 2020, told her, “Use your bible as a navigational device in life, Al.” Mrs. Hammond then quoted a passage from the Bible about a woman caught in adultery.

After watching the clip of the dramatic BBC interview in which Schofield said his daughters saved his life, Ms Hammond was left in tears as she struggled to speak.

Regular guest Gyles Brandreth described the Schofield case as a “human story but with public implications,” adding, “We’re dealing with a human being that we’ve all known and liked here for many years. So that makes it difficult for us.’