Former This Morning presenter, Phillip Schofield, has rejected claims of being a groomer after confessing to an affair with a younger male colleague. Schofield, who recently left ITV, admitted to lying about the relationship and expressed deep regret for the pain he caused. In an interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan, he clarified that the affair began when the man was 20 years old and working with him at ITV. Questions have been raised about ITV’s handling of the situation, leading to an external review by the broadcaster.
Schofield stated that the encounters were consensual and not part of a love affair or a relationship, emphasizing that they were simply “mates.” He admitted that the affair occurred around five or six times and that they believed nobody knew about it. Schofield took full responsibility for his actions, acknowledging that he acted unprofessionally and apologizing to his former lover and their innocent friends and family. ITV’s CEO has been called to address the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee regarding the broadcaster’s approach to safeguarding.
ITV has launched an external review conducted by a barrister to investigate how the network handled the rumors of the affair back in 2020. Schofield’s full interview with the BBC will be available on BBC iPlayer, providing further insight into the situation. The revelation of Schofield’s affair has sparked public debate and scrutiny over the responsibility of media organizations in handling such incidents.
Source: BBC
