Phillip Schofield, the former ITV presenter, has spoken out for the first time since leaving the network in an interview where he expressed feeling “utterly broken and ashamed” in the wake of a scandal involving an affair with a younger male colleague. Schofield made it clear that he did not groom his colleague, addressing accusations and emphasizing that their relationship evolved as friends rather than an abuse of power.
In his interview with The Sun, Schofield stated, “I did not, I did not (groom him). There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way (an abuse of power) because we’d become mates. But of course, I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but bearing in mind, I have never exercised that anywhere else.”
Schofield’s comments came after ITV announced an external review to investigate the details surrounding his relationship with his This Morning co-worker. He expressed deep remorse and offered an apology, saying, “I am deeply sorry, and I apologize to him because I should have known better. I should have acted the way I have always acted. I should not have done it.” Schofield also expressed profound mortification for his actions.
The affair scandal resulted in Schofield’s resignation from ITV and the termination of his relationship with talent agency YMU. This interview marks his first public statement since parting ways with the network. Schofield acknowledged the potential judgment he may face and stressed the importance of taking responsibility for his behavior.
