Phillip Schofield: Timeline of ITV departure after colleague affair and Holly Willoughby ‘rift’
The results of an external review of the culture at ITV’s This Morning have been released after former presenter Phillip Schofield stood down over an affair with a younger colleague.
The review comes after Schofield revealed the relationship in a statement to the Daily Mail newspaper.
The 61-year-old – who has also split from his agents – described his relationship with the man as “unwise, but not illegal”.
In May, the presenter departed This Morning with “immediate effect” following speculation over his relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby.
At the time, Schofield said he understood ITV had decided “the current situation cannot go on”.
Before the affair was revealed, Willoughby released a short statement, saying the sofa would not be the same without him.
The pair used to be firm friends, with their families even taking annual holidays together.
Here are the latest updates – as well as a look back at the start of their partnership.
Thursday 7 December: The results of an external review into Schofield and This Morning is released.
It revealed the TV star “reluctantly declined” to participate in it because of the “risk to his health”.
Of 48 people interviewed by Jane Mulcahy KC, who led the review, only one reported any knowledge of the affair – a former junior member of staff, the barrister said.
Meanwhile, ITV’s management “made considerable efforts to determine the truth” about the affair, the review also found.
Tuesday 10 October: Holly Willoughby quits This Morning, she says, “for me and my family”.
In a post on Instagram, she said: “I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.
“To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.”
Tuesday 6 June: SNP MP John Nicolson describes This Morning editor Martin Frizell’s answer to a Sky News interview over whether there is a “toxic” work environment on the show as “outrageously dismissive and flippant“. His comments come a day after Mr Frizell, when asked by our reporter about these particular allegations, replied: “I’ll tell you what’s toxic, and I’ve always found it toxic – aubergine. Do you like aubergine?”
Monday 5 June: On her return to the This Morning sofa after two weeks away, Willoughby told viewers she had been left feeling “shaken, troubled, let down” following revelations over Schofield’s affair, leading to his departure. Only mentioning her former co-presenter by name once, she went on to refer to him as “someone not telling the truth”, and to flag the “toll” on his “mental health”.
Friday 2 June: Schofield tells the BBC he has “lost everything” in the wake of his affair with a younger male colleague – and reveals their first romantic encounter took place in his dressing room and that the man was 20 when they first had any kind of sexual contact.
He says he felt homophobia was a factor in people who disapproved of their relationship, and that “if it was male-female then it wouldn’t be such a scandal”. Schofield also says he has had suicidal thoughts and that his daughters are “scared to let me out of their sight”.
“I see nothing ahead of me but blackness, and sadness, and regret, and remorse, and guilt. I did something very wrong, and then I lied about it consistently,” he tells the broadcaster.
Thursday 1 June: Schofield tells The Sun newspaper he feels “utterly broken and ashamed” by the affair. He also apologises to his former This Morning colleague and his family, saying he is “deeply mortified” and “should have known better”, but denies grooming him.
Earlier in the day, organisers of the British Soap Awards announced that TV personality and singer Jane McDonald will take over as host of this year’s ceremony, which takes place in Manchester on Saturday 3 June and is due to air on ITV on Tuesday 6 June.
And it is also announced that ITV’s chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall has been called to give evidence in parliament about the broadcaster’s approach to safeguarding and handling complaints. This session will take place on Wednesday 14 June.
Wednesday 31 May: ITV instructs a barrister to carry out an external review of the facts, Dame Carolyn says in a letter sent to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage, and Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes.
The broadcaster’s records show that ITV investigated when rumours first started to circulate in 2019-2020, she says. “Both parties were questioned then and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Phillip’s then agency, YMU,” the letter reads.
“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on the This Morning and wider Daytime team and were not provided with, and did not find any evidence of, a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.”
Tuesday 30 May: Schofield is dropped as an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, with the charity – founded by the King – saying it is “no longer appropriate” to work with the presenter.
Separately, it emerges that ITV bosses are due to appear before the culture, media and sports committee on Tuesday 6 June, to discuss the draft Media Bill. There are reports they will also face questions over public concern regarding the revelations around Schofield, but it is later decided the separate session with Dame Carolyn will allow next week’s hearing to focus on other matters.
Monday 29 May: Minutes before This Morning begins, Schofield hits out at “the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show”.
An hour later, a tweet from former colleague Eamonn Holmes describes him as “delusional” and a “liar”, adding that he has “picked the wrong person… if you’re looking for a fight”.
Presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary also reference the scandal on air, acknowledging they “happen to be in the news at the moment” and say they “love making the show”.
Later in the evening, Holmes claims there has been a “total cover-up” over the affair in an interview with GB News presenter Dan Wootton. He also accuses Schofield of “toxicity” amid the furore over the culture on the programme.
Sunday 28 May: Former This Morning resident doctor Ranj Singh claims “the issues with This Morning go far beyond” Schofield and describes it as “toxic”. He says he “took his concerns right to the top of ITV”, but a spokesperson replies that while the broadcaster was “sorry” to hear his comments, an invesitgation found no evidence of bullying.
Saturday 27 May: ITV releases a statement saying it investigated “rumours of a relationship” between Schofield and a younger employee – but the pair “repeatedly denied” the affair.
Holly Willoughby also accuses Schofield of lying to her about the affair. “When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not,” she wrote on Instagram. “It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”
Friday 26 May: Schofield releases statement admitting affair with “much younger man” and announcing he is stepping down from ITV and will not be involved in the British Soap Awards.
Monday 22 May: Presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary pay tribute to Schofield in the first show since he announced his exit – describing him as “one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had”, and “wishing him all the best for the future”.
Sunday 21 May: It is announced Hammond and O’Leary will take over presenting duties for Monday’s programme. Willoughby is to remain on the show but will take early half-term holiday leave before she is expected to return on 5 June, ITV says.
Saturday 20 May: The presenter announces he is stepping down from This Morning with immediate effect after more than 20 years on the programme.
Monday 15 May: As rumours intensify, Schofield and Willoughby put on a united front on the show – but viewers are concerned by the pair discussing headlines but failing to address the ongoing “feud.”
Thursday 11 May: Amid ongoing speculation about their cooling relationship, Schofield hails Willoughby as his “rock” while admitting “the last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us”.
In a statement, Schofield told The Sun newspaper: “As I have said before, Holly is my rock. We’re the best of friends – as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone.
“Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her.”
Wednesday 10 May: The Sun reports Schofield and Willoughby are “barely speaking” – citing “insiders” who claimed their relationship had “cooled” and issues had “rumbled for some time”.
Monday 17 April: The first show after the Easter break should have seen both hosts back on the couch after Schofield took leave while his brother, Timothy, was on trial for child sexual offences.
But while Schofield thanks fans for their support as he returned to This Morning for the first time since his paedophile sibling was convicted, Willoughby is absent.
She announces she has shingles and will be away from the show for a week.
Following his brother’s conviction, Schofield brands the crimes “despicable” and says: “As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.”
The co-hosts’ past relationship
2006: The pair first work together on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
2009: Willoughby joins ITV’s This Morning, replacing Fern Britton. In his memoir, Schofield pinpointed a row between the co-hosts over the content of a show as the catalyst for Britton’s departure.
2011: Willoughby leaves Dancing On Ice and starts presenting The Voice, then on BBC1.
2017: Willoughby reportedly negotiates a pay rise to match Schofield’s salary of £600,000. She was reportedly on around £400,000 before that.
2018: Willoughby returns to Dancing On Ice.
2020: Schofield comes out as gay after 27 years of marriage.
Willoughby interviews him about it on This Morning, telling him: “I will be by your side forever.”
She also posts a photograph of the two of them on Instagram, and writes: “Never been more proud of my friend than I am today.”
2022: The pair face accusations of queue jumping at the late Queen’s lying in state. More than 37,000 people signed a petition for them to be axed from This Morning.
Addressing the backlash, the hosts insist they were only there in a journalistic capacity and followed the rules set for media.