Two years on from Philip Schofield’s very public relationship with a younger colleague, he has largely kept out of the public eye.
Two years on from Philip Schofield’s very public relationship with a younger colleague, he has largely kept out of the public eye. Many people have been wondering what this means for the well-known, beloved British TV star.
Schofield, now 63, stepped down from ITV after admitting that he had lied about a past relationship with a younger male colleague on This Morning, while he was still married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe.
He had first met the individual when he was a 15 year old student at drama school. However, the affair did not start until years later. His shock exit marked a very sudden end to two years at ITV where he was host of popular shows such as This Morning, Dancing on Ice and prime time specials, as exclusively reported by the Mirror.
ITV confirmed it investigated the incident but had not found any evidence to contradict Schofield’s statements. Since then, he has not returned to UK daytime presenting.
PR expert Mayah Riaz says: “Phillip Schofield’s situation is complicated as it still makes people feel a bit uncomfortable because it sits in that grey area between a genuine wrongdoing and a very public unravelling.
“What Phillip did was wrong, but the scale of what followed became something far bigger than the original issue. The narrative stopped being about the incident and became about what he represented. He became the person the industry made an example of.”
She added: “There are certainly people in television who have done far worse and faced far less public and professional consequence. That is where accusations of hypocrisy creep in. Phil’s case was visible, emotional and very easy for the public to understand. That made him a perfect lightning rod.”
Schofield appeared on a survival style reality programme and he gave interviews that addressed his departure – and his treatment by ITV. Despite this, reaction was mixed as some viewers were sympathetic but others were much more critical.
Riaz adds: “His appearance on the survival show and his comments about ITV did not help because they reinforced a narrative of bitterness rather than reflection.
“Audiences are surprisingly forgiving when they feel someone has truly owned their mistakes. They are far less forgiving when they feel someone is still fighting the system.”
The MailOnline reported that Phil made £20,000 in 2024 which is a long way from his seven figure salary at ITV. Records from Fistral Productions, show it paid £3,947 for the year ending in November 2024.
Despite being active on Companies House, the Google profile claims it’s “permanently closed.” However, the company still claimed net assets of £2.1 million according to records.
Schofield has also owned property in London and Oxfordshire. After the scandal, he stayed at his home in Cornwall which was bought through Fistral Properties – which is a joint company established in 2019. The property had a cosy living room which can be seen in the promotional videos and photos for Philips’ book, ‘Life’s What you make it.’
Schofield and his former wife have two daughters together, Molly and Rube Lowe. the family are still very close knit and both daughters have expressed support for him.
Molly Schofield told an interviewer on Channel 5 that: “When my dad came out, it was… very hard for me, it was very hard for the entire family – mainly my mum, of course – everything was turned upside down.
“But we talked through it, and over time it’s got easier. You know, my mum, my sister (Ruby), we’re all the same, we will always continue to support him no matter what,” she added.
The presenter had support from his close friend, nurse Joshua Luke Sharman. The two were pictured leaving London’s LGBTQ dedicated cinema, Arzner Bar & Cafe in Bermondsey at 7pm and shared a kiss as they left in August 2025.
His former co-presenter Holly Willoughby also experienced fallout – although it was very different. Audiences were unsure what she knew and when.
Riaz explained: “She was absolutely collateral damage at the start. She was placed in an impossible position where any reaction was going to be criticised. Silence looked complicit, speaking out looked disloyal. That is a PR nightmare no one trains you for.”
“Her brand was built on warmth, relatability and trust. Once viewers started questioning what she knew and when, that emotional connection weakened. TV audiences are instinctive. If they feel something is off, they drift away quietly rather than loudly.”
The two have not public reconciled since the fallout from the controversy. Sources say that Holly is now ready to face her former co-star – three years on from the scandal.
“Holly is taking hold of life and facing her demons,” an insider told Heat magazine. “Phillip is one of those, so instead of burying him she will face him. She’s told pals if he wants to talk, she’s prepared to listen.
“Phil has reached out to Holly multiple times. He made several attempts to send her messages via mutual friends, but most fell on deaf ears. Holly wasn’t in a place to receive them.”
