Inside Phillip Schofield’s past seven months out of the public eye from reunion with co-star to mother’s hospital vigil
SEVEN months on from Phillip Schofield’s shock departure from This Morning the star still remains out of the public eye.
Schofield was axed from the ITV show in May and then admitted he’d had the affair with a much younger colleague after rumors started circulating.
The runner, who was at least 30 years Schofield’s junior, started at ITV in 2017 and the presenter admitted they shared a moment in his dressing room that same year.
Today it was revealed that the ex-broadcaster, 61, refused to take part in an ITV probe into the relationship.
However, Schofield has broken cover several times since the affair was revealed.
The host of 21 years was fired back in May – and devastated Phil immediately then drove 300 miles from London to Cornwall to see mum Pat, 85.
The Sun exclusively showed how he spent that evening pouring his heart out to her on a coastal walk.
A month later he was again snapped in Cornwall as he was spotted outside his seriously-ill mum’s home.
He had been keeping a vigil in a hospital where Pat was treated for an unknown condition for several days.
But she was then moved home – and it is thought Schofield stayed with her while she recuperates.
Pictures showed him looking concerned as he left her home with his cousin David.
In August Schofield once again broke cover as he reunited with This Morning co-star Vanessa Feltz for dinner.
He and Vanessa, also 61, left restaurant Little Bird in Chiswick, West London.
The friends shared a hug and were snapped chatting animatedly before TalkTV host Vanessa got into a waiting car, while Phil left alone on foot.
Just a week later he was spotted deep in conversation with a pal as he enjoyed a burger and a drink at the Weir Bar in Brentford, West London, on Sunday.
He appeared at ease as he sat at a wooden picnic table dressed in a short-sleeved white shirt while having a drink.
In October he was snapped just days after best pal Holly Willoughby quit This Morning.
He looked downcast as he headed to his car in West London in a leafy neighbourhood wearing a grey sweater, blue jeans and burgundy Converse.
Phil did not comment on his longtime co-star’s shock exit from the programme.
And Holly notably failed to mention her old sidekick in her brief exit statement.
Today the report by Jane Mulcahy KC, referred to Schofield as PS, and the runner PX – Person X.
It said that the runner “wanted to move on with his life and was not prepared to assist with” the review.
Schofield was axed from This Morning in May and then admitted he’d had the affair after rumors started circulating.
The report today revealed that of the 48 people interviewed – only one person knew of the affair before May.
And, they were only told two years prior.
The findings also suggest that one person is not Holly Willoughby as they were a junior at ITV.
The review found that TV made “considerable efforts” to find out the truth about the relationship but was “unable to uncover the relevant evidence” until Schofield admitted it.
ITV chairman Andy Costlett today said: “The KC review makes it clear that ITV’s management made considerable efforts to determine the truth about an alleged relationship between PS and Person X following media speculation.
“However, no concerns were reported and in the face of the denials of the individuals involved, ITV was unable to uncover the relevant evidence until PS’s admission in late May 2023.
“The KC makes it clear that the senior management of ITV and the senior team of This Morning were unaware of the nature of the relationship until PS’s statement in May 2023.
“We also asked the KC to review how we acted towards Person X and the KC has found that the company provided significant support to him.”
Schofield and the runner — identified only as Person X — both “categorically denied” any affair.
Person X was asked 12 times, including twice with a human resources staffer present.