Phillip Schofield’s career and This Morning scandal timeline as he makes huge TV return-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Schofield began his UK career on children’s TV in 1985. He’d previously worked in New Zealand on the youth music programme Shazam!

He stayed on CBBC for two years, presenting segments from the ‘broom cupboard’ before moving on to present Going Live! The compilation show included interviews with notable famous faces, music performances and regular gunges.

In 2002, Schofield took a seat on the sofa of This Morning with original co-host Fern Britton, taking over from John Leslie. Holly took the reins in 2009, and the pair became a loved duo.

Dancing on Ice came to our screens in 2006, and was the birthplace of the iconic partnership between Schofield and Holly.

In the same year that Dancing on Ice started, Schofield began hosting the British Soap Awards, which was taken over by Jane McDonald in 2023.

All-Star Mr & Mrs began in 2009 with Schofield and Fern at the helm, and he fronted The Cube from 2009 to 2015.

Schofield came out as gay after nearly 27 years of marriage to wife Stephanie, in an emotional on-air chat with co-host Willoughby, where the pair embraced on the sofa.

The duo found themselves in hot water when they were accused of skipping the queue to visit the late Queen Elizabeth III lying in state.

While ITV issued a statement in their defence, and the presenters insisted they didn’t break any rules or take anyone’s place, the backlash and criticism continued.

Schofield told viewers it was ‘lovely to be back’ as he returned after two weeks during his brother’s trial.

Timothy Schofield was found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a period of three years, having been charged with 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019.

Following the verdict, Schofield issued a statement saying he ‘no longer’ has a brother.

Reports emerged that Holly and Schofield were ‘barely speaking’ behind the scenes and that their ‘relationship had cooled’.

One day later, Schofield released a statement insisting the duo are still ‘best friends’ but admitted ‘the last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us’.

Ignoring the rumours, Holly and Schofield appeared on This Morning beaming and seemingly putting on a united front.

The duo continued downplaying the rumours during their four episodes of This Morning that week, signing off the week saying, ‘See you on Monday, bye!’

Schofield confirmed his departure from This Morning, saying: ‘I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.

‘Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind.

‘I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love.

‘So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future.’

After Schofield announced his departure, ITV confirmed he would be hosting the British Soap Awards on June 3, and would be hosting a ‘brand new peak time series’.

Addressing Schofield’s departure, Holly said: ‘It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Schofield and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.

‘The sofa won’t feel the same without him.’

ITV confirmed she would go on to host This Morning with other members of the team, but took an early half-term break, and would not be returning to the sofa until June 5.

The likes of Eamonn Holmes and Amanda Holden made savage digs at Schofield and Holly after the news.

Meanwhile, This Morning star Matthew Wright admitted he was ‘gutted’ while Josie Gibson shared a cryptic post.

After Schofield was spotted in Cornwall seeking solace with his mother, broadcaster Piers Morgan claimed that Schofield opened up to him and said he was ‘heartbroken’.

In a bombshell confession, and after years of speculation, Schofield admitted to having a relationship with a much younger man who worked as a runner on This Morning.

He insisted it was ‘unwise but not illegal’.

In his statement provided to The Daily Mail, he said the relationship occurred while Schofield was still married to his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe, the mother of his two daughters – Ruby and Molly – and before he came out as gay.

‘I am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me,’ Schofield said, after admitting he lied to the broadcaster and his colleagues.

Despite previous claims that Schofield would be hosting the British Soap Awards, having done so since 2006, he confirmed in his statement that he would not be.

ITV later told Metro.co.uk that the awards show will continue, and a new host would be announced in ‘due course’.

Following his exit, it was announced that YMU has ‘parted company’ with Schofield after 35 years.

Mary Bekhait, the Group CEO of YMU Group, told Metro.co.uk in a statement: ‘Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.

‘This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him.

‘As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect.’

After an admission that he lied to colleagues and to ITV, ITV broke their silence, confirming that they accept his resignation.

The broadcaster also admitted to feeling ‘badly let down’ and ‘deeply disappointed’ after Schofield confessed to lying to bosses about his relationship.

Carol McGiffin retweeted a message from former ITV employee Dan Wootton asking for the ITV CEO to step down from their role, while Eamonn declared that Schofield had ‘finally been caught out’.

Willoughby accused Schofield of lying to her about the affair, saying his admission is ‘very hurtful’.

ITV released a new statement, confirming that an investigation into Schofield and an employee was conducted in 2020, and no evidence of a relationship was found ‘beyond hearsay and rumour’.

The Sun published an interview with Schofield in which he said he was sorry to Willoughby but owes his ‘greatest apology’ to his former lover. He reiterated that he did not ‘groom’ the man, and that although his wife was ‘very, very angry’ about the affair, his daughters have been “guarding” him during the fallout.

Speaking to the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Schofield also said he ‘has ‘lost everything’ and the affair had a ‘catastrophic effect’ on his mind. Speaking about the criticism he has faced, he said he could see ‘nothing ahead’ except ‘blackness and sadness’ and spoke about his career in television ‘in the past tense’.

Willoughby made an emotional return to This Morning, saying she felt ‘shaken, troubled, let down and worried’ following the revelations about Schofield. She began with: ‘Firstly, are you ok?’ adding: ‘It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil.’

It is confirmed by ITV that the company’s policy on work relationships has been updated in the wake of furore over Schofield. Staff are reportedly required to disclose any kind of relationship, including a friendship, sexual or romantic connection, to ‘the company at the earliest opportunity’.

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ITV’s review into Schofield’s behaviour on This Morning is published, through he ‘reluctantly declined’ in taking part. It said it made ‘considerable efforts’ to find out the truth about the alleged affair but was ‘unable to uncover the relevant evidence’ until the presenter’s own admission in late May 2023. The former presenter ‘reluctantly declined’ to take part because of ‘the risk to his health’.

Schofield slowly began to return to social media, with updates about his dog at first, and was later pictured on outings with his family.

Schofield will appear on Cast Away, and announced: ‘I can say whatever I want about whatever I want. It’s my chance to tell my side of my story.’