Yahoo Sports This Morning's Alison Hammond in tears over Phillip Schofield interview
This Morning presenter Alison Hammond broke down in tears on Friday's (June 2) instalment of the ITV daytime show as she discussed Phillip Schofield's latest interview.
Schofield recently stepped down from his presenting role on This Morning, and later ITV as a whole, as he confirmed having an affair with a younger male colleague while working on the daytime programme.
In announcing his departure from ITV, Schofield said the relationship was consensual and "unwise, but not illegal" and that "in an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven't been truthful about the relationship".
After watching back Schofield's recent interview with the BBC about the controversy, Hammond became overwhelmed with emotions.
Related: British Soap Awards announces new host to replace Phillip Schofield
Hammond was visibly tearful as she discussed the controversy live on air with her co-host Dermot O'Leary.
"I’m just finding it really painful because obviously, I loved Phillip Schofield," she explained. "It's weird because I still love Phillip Schofield. However, what he's done is wrong.
"He's admitted it. He's said sorry. But, as a family, we are all really struggling to process everything and I never know what to say."
Related: Phillip Schofield apologises to This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby over scandal
Attempting to explain how she was coping with the news, Hammond revealed she's been reflecting on some advice her mother once gave her.
"I remember what my mum said," she recalled. "My mum always said 'Use your Bible as a sat nav in life, Al.' And in the Bible, it says 'he without sin, cast the first stone'.
"And I just don't want to… I don't want to say anything bad because obviously, I'm in conflict."
Related: Phillip Schofield issues new statement after leaving This Morning
During Schofield's emotional BBC interview, he detailed the toll on his mental health since news of his affair became public knowledge.
The former ITV presenter praised his daughters for their support during the challenging time.
"Last week, if my daughters hadn't been there, then I wouldn't be here," he told the BBC's Amol Rajan. "They've guarded me and won't let me out of their sight.
"It's like a weird numbness. I know that's a selfish point of view, but you come to a point where you just think how much are you supposed to take."
Schofield said he doubts he will return to work in TV, and added: "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 also reiterated that his colleague Holly Willoughby had no knowledge of the affair.
ITV previously said it investigated reports of a relationship between Schofield and his younger colleague, but that both parties had repeatedly denied it.
Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV chief, has since ordered an external investigation into the controversy surrounding Schofield and This Morning.
This Morning airs on ITV1.
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