Shamed This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield looks sombre while walking his pet puppy as Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard make their show debut

Embarrassed former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield cut a somber figure as he walked his puppy in west London on Monday as the new presenters made their debut.

Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard launched the new era of the ITV daytime product after the pair were revealed as the new additions last month following weeks of speculation.

The future of the ITV show was thrown into chaos after its star presenter was forced to resign in May and Holly Willoughby made her shock exit in October.

As the show entered a new chapter, Phillip kept a straight face as he enjoyed a walk with his new dog.

The former presenter dressed in a dark padded jacket with a cream-colored fluffy collar while keeping it casual in jeans.

It comes five months after the broadcast bowed out of the spotlight after an affair with a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning, leading to his departure after more than twenty years on the show.

After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally became public and he admitted he was left ‘broken and ashamed’ but insisted he was not a groomer.

He said the affair “never came across” as an abuse of power because he and his lover were “buddies.” He told The Sun: “I was unprofessional once in a 41-year career. There is no excuse. No one has done anything wrong except me.”

In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the presenter said: ‘I didn’t do that, I didn’t look after him.’

‘There are accusations of all kinds of things. It never came across that way because we became friends. I do not know. But of course I understand that there will be a mass judgment, but keeping that in mind, I have never done that before.’

It has emerged since then He paid his much younger lover keep quiet about their relationship.

Schofield paid his former colleague, who is 34 years his junior, a six-figure sum to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that prevents him from talking about their affair.

The TV presenter has been in the wilderness since he admitted the affair and lied to his ITV employers in an extraordinary mea culpa to the Mail last May.

A lawyer acting for the former This Morning presenter has now confirmed that a deal was signed with his former lover last year, including a ‘mutual confidentiality clause’ and a payment to compensate the man for the losses suffered.

The man was just 15 when he met Schofield, who helped him land a coveted job as a runner on This Morning at the age of 19.

A romantic relationship between the pair began when the man was in his 20s, after which he moved to another ITV daytime show, Loose Women. He later left the channel with a separate payout.

Despite the clause preventing either party from talking about the affair, Schofield revealed intimate details of their relationship when interviewed by the BBC’s Amol Rajan last June.

A source familiar with the NDA told The Mail on Sunday: “The young man has been vulnerable for some time. That’s no secret.

“Several matters were paid for following Phillip’s decision to speak out about his relationship and as part of this a non-disclosure agreement was drawn up and signed.

‘It means Phil knows his young ex will never be able to talk about their relationships again, which means he can probably sleep a lot better now.

‘He (Schofield) has lost a lot, but imagine if the full details were to become known – that would be quite disastrous for him.

‘As for the young man, let’s hope he can now move on with his life and rebuild it – but that’s not easy.

‘And it’s a bit of an exaggeration to present an NDA after Phil had his say at the BBC last year.’

The man – only referred to as Person

New presenters Cat and Ben said they were ‘so excited’ when they finally made their debut on Monday.

During the show’s opening moments, Cat said: “We’re so excited to be here, this show has been part of our lives for so long.”

Ben, who left Good Morning Britain last month after ten years, added: “Everyone has been so lovely. thanks to everyone who sent us messages of support.’

Cat and Ben also received messages of support from some of their famous friends, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sharing a sweet tribute to their former SMTV co-host.

Ant said, “Kat, Ben, good luck!” while Dec continued: ‘Have the best time! You’re going to be amazing, we can’t wait to watch.”

Noting their wild parties during the heyday of their children’s telly, Ant said: ‘A little bit of advice for Ben about Cat, because we’ve worked with Cat and she may be very sweet and light, but that girl can party! Don’t think she can’t do that.’

Declan added: ‘Keep a lock on the drinks cupboard.’

Back in the studio, Cat admitted with a smile on her face, “Look, my motto in life is work hard, play hard.”

Cat went on to reveal, “Well, actually Ben, I actually got a little word of warning about you too – from one of your best friends, check it out!” Before the clip played, Ben joked: “That’s even more worrying when it’s from one of my friends!”

Viewers then heard Chris Kamara, affectionately known to many as Kammy, say: ‘Let me tell you Cat, he’s like a bear with a sore head when West Ham get beaten and the rest of the time he’s just miserable!

“I’m just kidding, let me tell you that Cat was one of the best things that happened to me and I’m sure you’ll see that, and vice versa of course. Good luck to both of you, I think you’re going to screw it up.’

Ben said, “Aww Kammy! He never manages to move me, that man. On Sundays we often woke up together on Sky… You have to learn that! But thank you Kammy for that message.’