Friends of Caroline Flack say they are ‘upset and angry’ after Phillip Schofield compared himself to the late Love Island presenter
- For confidential support, call the Samaritans at 116123 or visit a local Samaritan branch. See www.samaritans.org for details
Friends of Caroline Flack said today they were “upset and angry” that Phillip Schofield had compared himself to the late Love Island presenter.
Interviewed by the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Schofield confessed that he felt he had ‘nothing ahead’ in his TV career after being forced to leave ITV two weeks ago.
Appearing on camera for the first time since admitting to The Mail last week that he had had an ‘ill-advised but not illegal’ affair, Schofield was asked how he felt, to which he replied: ‘I think I understand how Caroline Flack felt.’
The 61-year-old said the fallout from his confession had been “ruthless” and praised his two daughters for saving his life, claiming he “wouldn’t be here if” it wasn’t for them.
But Schofield’s comments have left those close to Mrs Flack, who committed suicide three years ago, in disbelief.
Caroline Flack (pictured in 2019) was charged with assault after an argument with her partner, Lewis Burton
Phillip Schofield was asked how he felt to which he replied: ‘I think I understand how Caroline Flack felt’
One told the Mail: “It’s absolutely unbelievable that Phil would do this. What a low blow from him.
“We just don’t understand why he would compare himself to Caroline. It came out of nowhere, Caroline had her own issues that even she thought no one could relate to.
“So how Phil could is lost on those who loved Caroline so much.”
Schofield raised the name of Ms Flack when he spoke of the collapse of his TV career.
He confessed that he now had to talk about being a presenter “in the past tense.”
Mrs Flack committed suicide after learning she would be charged with allegedly assaulting her boyfriend.
She was distraught when she lost her ITV job, which friends say she ‘absolutely loved’.
As well as Ms Flack’s friends objecting to the former This Morning star’s comments, social media was flooded with criticism.
One Twitter user said: ‘Phillip Schofield said he now knows what Caroline Flack went through.
The 40-year-old took her own life two months after being arrested in December 2019 on suspicion of assault
Flack allegedly assaulted her boyfriend Lewis Burton at her home in December 2019
“He really needs to shut up and sit in a corner, because he’s not making any new friends.”
The Mail can also reveal that Ms Flack avoided appearing on This Morning when Schofield was the host.
Whenever she wanted to do a segment on Love Island, she asked her that she do it on a Friday when he wasn’t around.
A source close to the late star said, “Caroline preferred to do business with the Friday gang.”
For confidential support, call the Samaritans at 116123 or visit a local Samaritan branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.