Phillip Schofield’s Soap Awards host replacement revealed as BAFTA Award winning TV star
PHILLIP Schofield’s British Soap Awards host replacement has been revealed as BAFTA Award winning TV star Jane McDonald.
It comes after Phil, 61, announced last week that he had quit ITV entirely and the award show, which he has hosted since 2006.
Singer-songwriter and presenter Jane, 60, will be stepping in to host the awards bash on Saturday.
The much-loved star is best known for Channel 5 series Cruising With Jane and her previous role as a Loose Women on the ITV show.
Last week Phillip made the shock decision to quit the awards show after it was revealed he had an affair with a much younger male ITV employee – just a week after he was dropped from This Morning.
The British Soap Awards is due to take place in Manchester on June 3rd.
They have now taken the decision to delete any mention of Phil from their official website.
Last week Phillip had assured fans he would still be hosting the ceremony but has made a dramatic U-turn after admitting to an affair while he was still married.
With the British Soap Awards now thrown into chaos it was confirmed that the ceremony will still go ahead.
An insider at ITV said: “The British Soap Awards will take place next Saturday as planned.
The source added: “We will make further announcements in due course.”
Phil’s exit was confirmed after weeks of intense speculation about his future and a feud with co-host Holly Willoughby, 42 — and as an insider revealed the row was even putting off guests from appearing with them.
It comes after his brother Tim Schofield was jailed after being found guilty of “emotionally blackmailing” a teen into sex acts and forcing him to watch porn.
And days later, Phillip, the host of 21 years had been in an office with show chief Martin Frizzell and told his contract, due to end this summer, was not being renewed.
Last weekend it was revealed that Phillip had been dropped by his agent after the affair with the male ITV employee was exposed, which was not illegal.