Holly Willoughby has mentioned Phillip Schofield lied to her about his affair with a a lot youthful male colleague.
Speaking for the primary time since Schofield admitted having an “unwise, but not illegal” affair, his former This Morning co-presenter wrote on Instagram: “It has taken time to course of yesterday’s information.
“When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.
“It’s been very hurtful to now discover out that this was a lie.”
On Friday, the veteran broadcaster stop ITV and admitted to having an affair with a colleague who labored on This Morning. Rumours of the connection had first begun to flow into in 2020.
ITV mentioned it had investigated – however each Schofield and the worker “repeatedly denied” the affair.
The broadcaster was compelled to subject the assertion after questions have been raised over what community bosses knew about Schofield’s conduct.
Fellow former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes had mentioned Schofield was “not the only guilty party” and claimed high administration “knew what sort of man he was”.
Questions had additionally been raised about what his co-host, Ms Willoughby knew, one thing she has now hit again at along with her assertion.
Schofield, 61, left This Morning final week, amid stories his long-term friendship with Willoughby had come below pressure.
The two have been open about their shut friendship through the years, together with sharing photos on social media of them whereas on joint holidays with their households.
Holly made a press release by way of Instagram Stories. (Pic: Instagram)
What ITV mentioned
In response to mounting stress on the broadcaster, an ITV spokesperson mentioned: “Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
“Both events have been questioned and each categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then company YMU.
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“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
“Phillip’s assertion yesterday reveals that he lied to individuals at ITV, from senior administration to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”
Phillip Schofield in 2021
Schofield ‘deeply sorry’ for mendacity
In a press release on Friday, Schofield mentioned he was “deeply sorry” for mendacity concerning the relationship.
It is known the youthful colleague, who will not be a public determine, didn’t need the connection to be made public.
The affair happened earlier than Mr Schofield publicly got here out as homosexual in 2020, and whereas he was nonetheless married to his spouse Stephanie Lowe.
Read extra:
Schofield leaves This Morning after greater than 20 years
Timeline of departure and rumours of rift with co-host Holly
Statements from presenter and his brokers in full
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Dermot O’Leary requested about Phillip Schofield
In a damning assertion, his former brokers YMU Group mentioned “honesty and integrity” have been core values of their enterprise and that their relationships are “based entirely on trust”.
They have since parted methods with Schofield.
Willoughby is about to return to This Morning on 5 June.
Content Source: information.sky.com