British Soap Awards WILL go ahead as planned as Phillip Schofield steps down

ITV has confirmed that the British Soap Awards will go ahead as planned after Phillip Schofield stepped down with just eight days’ notice amid his admission of an affair.

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.

It comes after Phillip, 61, quit ITV and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to having an affair with a young male colleague This Morning.

He confessed to having an “ill-advised but not illegal” relationship with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe, previously denying the affair when asked by his agent.

Phillip was due to host the British Soap Awards next weekend after quitting This Morning last week, but confirmed in Friday’s statement that he has resigned all his ITV jobs, including the ceremony.

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.

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.”

After leaving This Morning, Phillip was still planning to host the Soap Awards for the 13th consecutive year, but confirmed he was quitting ITV altogether on Friday.

Phillip admitted to having an affair with a younger male colleague, which he claimed was “unwise but not illegal,” in a lengthy statement that was released, also apologizing 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.

“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.”