I’ve kept in touch with my old pal Phillip Schofield – his axe was pretty savage and brutal, says Richard Madeley
FORMER This Morning host Richard Madeley has revealed he is still in touch with his pal Phillip Schofield, and called his sacking ‘savage and brutal’.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Richard reflected on the fate of his successor on the ITV daytime sofa.
Phillip was unceremoniously axed by ITV after his one-time affair with a younger colleague was revealed.
Richard believes he has been treated unduly harshly – and remains in touch with the star.
He says: “I feel very sorry for Phillip – it seemed a pretty savage outcome after 21 years (in the job).
“It seemed quite brutal to be honest. I took a paternal interest in it – I kept in touch, told him to take it easy and that it’ll be all right.
“He agreed. All things pass in the end.
“We’ve all been through terrible experiences and the worst ones are the phones that come out of a clear blue sky and you don’t see them coming.
“Politicians say they’re only one debate away from a catastrophe and it’s the same in our industry.”
Richard is currently co-hosting This Morning’s early-rising sister, Good Morning Britain, but has no plans to fill the sofa void left by Phil: “I enjoyed it but wouldn’t go back.”
Richard will next be seen on his daugher’s ITVBe reality show, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair.
The show documents the ups and downs of her first year of motherhood, family life and her marriage to ex-England rugby player, James Haskell.
Both Richard and Judy, 75, have “walk-on parts”, while Chloe and her husband of five years James Haskell take centre stage.
Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair starts Monday 9th October at 9pm on ITVBe