Yahoo Sports Holly Willoughby breaks silence on Phillip Schofield affair
Holly Willoughby has shared a new statement following former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield's admission of an affair with a younger male colleague.
Schofield – who stepped down from the daytime show last week – announced yesterday (May 26) that the relationship occurred, and that he lied to his bosses and ITV, as well as colleagues and his agency YMU, which he has now parted ways with.
In a new statement shared today on her Instagram Stories, Willoughby said: "It's taken time to process yesterday's news.
"When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It's been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie. Holly," she added.
Following Schofield's announcement, ITV revealed that they launched an investigation into "rumours" of an affair back in 2020, but found no evidence at the time.
"Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020, ITV investigated," they said in their new statement.
"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Phillip's then-agency YMU.
"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
"Phillip's statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."
In Schofield's statement, he said he had a "consensual" relationship that was "unrelated" to his This Morning departure.
"Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over," he said.
Willoughby remains on This Morning, though is currently on a break until June 5.
This Morning airs on weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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