Did This Morning’s Phillip Schofield come out as gay because he feared his affair with a younger male staffer would be exposed?
It wasn’t just the viewers that stunned Phillip Schofield three years ago when he announced live on This Morning that he was gay.
Not even fellow presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford knew about the star’s confession until minutes before the cameras started rolling. Which previously suggested that something had happened that forced the hand of the veteran presenter. The question on the lips of many was: why now?
Friends and colleagues are currently reconsidering Schofield’s dramatic 2020 announcement, which was accompanied by tears and a promise to “celebrate and be proud” of his sexuality, in light of the events of recent days.
Although he would not admit it, Schofield was dating a much younger male colleague at the time.
The production assistant’s behavior initially worried bosses at the January 2020 National Television Awards when he declared his love for Schofield.
Phillip Schofield stunned viewers in 2020 when he announced he was gay on This Morning
Insiders say the ITV bosses were increasingly concerned about the man’s intentions: was he planning to spill the beans – or was someone else?
Schofield came out the following month and sources believe he did so because he feared being exposed by his young former lover.
Columnist Dan Wootton wrote about the NTA ceremony for MailOnline yesterday: ‘There was an altercation between the [lover] and both Phillip and Holly separately, attended by senior ITV staff… including the mighty television director Kevin Lygo.
‘I have with the [lover] that night and was incredibly concerned about how badly the growing scandal had affected both his mental and physical health…
“Phillip clearly knew the story wasn’t going to go away, so just a week later he made his decision to appear on the This Morning couch.”
Schofield told viewers that morning, with co-presenter Holly Willoughby by his side, “You never know what’s going on in someone’s seemingly perfect life, what issues they’re struggling with or what their well-being is like – and so you don’t know.” what has been bothering me for the past few years.
“With the strength and support of my wife and daughters, I have been able to accept that I am gay. This is something that has sparked many heartbreaking conversations at home.
“I have been married to Steph for almost 27 years and we have two beautiful adult daughters… My family has kept me so close: they have tried to cheer me up, smother me with kindness and love, despite their own confusion. ‘
The announcement was followed by a deal – encouraged by ITV bosses – with a national newspaper for an exclusive interview with the This Morning presenter. Insiders believe this was an attempt to thwart possible plans by his lover to go public first.
As it turned out, he had no intention of doing this.