Philip Schofield: ITV investigated ‘rumors’ of a relationship

  • Written by Stephen Macintosh
  • Entertainment reporter

image source, Getty Images

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Philip Scofield left the role on This Morning last week after reports of a falling out with co-star Holly Willoughby

ITV said it investigated “rumours” of an affair between Philip Schofield and a younger employee in 2020 – but both have “repeatedly denied it”.

The TV presenter said the relationship was “unwise, but not illegal”.

Some former daytime ITV personalities said the revelations raised questions about how well the network’s managers knew.

An ITV spokesperson said: “Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumors of an affair between Philip Schofield and an ITV employee first began circulating in early 2020, ITV investigated.

Both parties were questioned and both parties categorically and repeatedly denied the rumors as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.

Additionally, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided, and found, no evidence of a relationship beyond rumor and hearsay.

“Philip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and others about this relationship.”

The statement follows comments made by former ITV presenters including Eamonn Holmes and Dan Wootton that ITV bosses have questions to answer about how much oversight they have had over one of its most popular presenters.

image source, Getty Images

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Schofield and Willoughby presented ITV’s This Morning and Dancing on Ice together before he left

He was still married to his wife Stephanie Lowe at the time of the affair. They divorced in 2020, after he came out as gay.

The TV presenter said he was “very, very sorry” for being unfaithful to his wife, and for lying to colleagues, agents, employers, friends, the media and the public about the relationship.

The 61-year-old’s exit from the network means he will not be presenting the British Soap Awards next month.

Nor will he be seen on a new primetime series that ITV said last week they are developing with him.

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Philip Scofield was still married to Stephanie Lowe (pictured in 2020) at the time of the relationship

But Schofield said in his statement on Friday that his exit from the show had nothing to do with the case of his colleague, who was not mentioned by the BBC.

An earlier statement from ITV on the issue read: “Philip gave us assurances which he now admits are incorrect and we are extremely disappointed.”

Scofield’s confirmation of this relationship follows significant online speculation over several months about his personal relationships.

The talent agency YMU also severed ties with the presenter following his announcement.

In a statement to the BBC, Schofield said, “It is with great regret that, after 35 years of faultless management by YMU, I have agreed to step down from their representation with immediate effect.”

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