Phillip Schofield looks glum as he’s spotted amid reports his ex-lover will ‘have his say’ over affair in ITV probe
PHILLIP Schofield looked glum today as he was spotted for the first time since it was revealed his ex-lover will “have his say” in ITV’s external investigation
The ex-This Morning host, 61, was snapped in Newquay, Cornwall, where he has been celebrating his mum’s birthday.
Dressed casually in shorts, a blue T-shirt and Converse trainers, Schofield was seen looking tense as he chatted on the phone.
It comes after the star sensationally left This Morning last month after revealing he had an affair with the much-younger male employee.
The presenter, who was married at the time, branded the relationship “unwise but not illegal”.
The man first met Schofield when he was 15 before taking a job at This Morning as a runner three years later.
It has been claimed he was moved to another show and given a “financial settlement” after the affair ended.
And now it’s been revealed that the runner will be quizzed by independent barrister Jane Mulcahy KC over the relationship with the then-married star.
A source told the Daily Mail: “ITV have kept in touch with the man and there will be a very thorough investigation, where many people close to the situation will be asked questions.
“It will be his chance to have his say. It could most definitely lead to some difficult reading for ITV’s bosses.”
The new independent review could also see current This Morning hosts Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Holly Willoughby quizzed.
Other stars who have worked on the ITV show — including Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford and Dr Ranj Singh — will also be called to give statements.
Earlier this month the shamed host exclusively opened up to The Sun about the affair.
He described the moment the relationship with the young runner started in a dressing room after a This Morning episode.
The former host revealed he worked with the colleague for a short period and had become friends.
He said: “Then one day something happened that just changed it. That is the moment I look back on, and regret so deeply.
“It was in my dressing room in 2017, it was a consensual moment, it was mutual.
“It was not a love affair, it was not a relationship, we were not boyfriends; we were mates.
“It wasn’t feelings (I was getting), it was more like mates: excitement.
“I was really struggling with my sexuality at that time in the build up to what happened.”
Phil was at lengths to point out the chronology of events, and make clear the pair were not in touch romantically or inappropriately after they first communicated when the boy was just 15.
He also cited homophobia for some of the criticism levelled at him over the age gap.