Phillip Schofield’s lover ‘was paid off by ITV after affair with shamed This Morning star ended’
SHAMED Phillip Schofield’s lover “received a financial settlement” after their affair ended, it is claimed.
The much younger runner was then moved to another ITV daytime show by bosses at the now crisis-engulfed corporation.
A source told the Daily Mail: “There have been numerous pay-offs at ITV and they have always had to be arranged and sanctioned by people of some seniority.”
The paper says the sum was handed to Phil’s toyboy after he declared his love for Schofield at an awards ceremony in January 2020.
Insiders at ITV said bosses at some level must have known about any payment as senior body have had to sign it off.
Phil, 61, was given his marching orders from This Morning last week after lying about the affair, which he described as “unwise but not illegal”.
The revelations saw the show catapulted into chaos – with Holly Willoughby’s future on This Morning now in doubt.
Last night, The Sun revealed Phil and his runner lover used a £1million flat next to ITV’s studios for “playtime”.
The loved-up pair would vanish “for hours” into the exclusive Helios Hotel adjacent to the White City studios in West London, a source said.
They added: “Phil and the runner were often seen leaving at around 3pm, two hours after filming on This Morning had ended.
“They would use the entrance through the hotel and stay for an hour or two. Phillip’s driver was always waiting for him outside.
“I asked one of the security guards why the driver was still here and he replied, ‘Well Phillip and that young runner are up in the apartment’.”
Last night former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes sensationally revealed that Phil would enjoy “playtime Thursdays” with his younger male lover.
Eamonn said Schofield would take the runner back to another property he owned in London — and have ITV pay for a car to take his lover back to work on Friday when it was Phillip’s day off.
Eamonn, 63, said he recently found out the runner would arrive at the studio much earlier than he would — “delivered from Phillip’s home”.
In an explosive takedown, Holmes also blasted Phil a “hated narcissist”.
He also blasted “distant” Holly who he said “doesn’t care” that she doesn’t know the names of the This Morning crew.
He went on to demand Holly, 42, leave the daytime show immediately and never return.
Last night, a This Morning insider told The Sun: “It’s all out war.
“There is blood on the walls. All bets are off now and household stars cannot be held back.”