The story of Phillip Schofield’s departure from ITV is indeed a hotly debated topic and may conceal secrets that few people know about. Based on publicly available information, Schofield officially left *This Morning* in May 2023 after more than 20 years, following his admission of lying about an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger colleague on the show. His exit not only marked the end of an era on ITV but also sparked widespread speculation and discussion about what really happened behind the scenes.
Schofield initially announced his departure from *This Morning* on May 20, 2023, stating that the show had “become the story” and that he wanted to “protect the show he loved.” However, just days later, on May 26, he admitted to an extramarital affair with a younger staff member and resigned from ITV entirely, including other projects like the *British Soap Awards*. ITV expressed deep disappointment, stating they felt deceived by Schofield’s earlier assurances, which he now admitted were untrue.
But the story doesn’t end there. In the Channel 5 program *Phillip Schofield: Cast Away*, aired in September 2024, Schofield offered a different perspective, claiming he was sacked from ITV not because of the affair but due to “someone else’s guilt”—specifically referencing the scandal involving his brother, Timothy Schofield, who was convicted in April 2023 of 11 charges related to child sexual abuse. He suggested he was “thrown under the bus” by colleagues and ITV executives, criticizing three unnamed senior figures he called “three rats in showbiz.” This contradicts his initial claim of voluntarily stepping down, raising questions about whether internal pressure from ITV forced his exit.
ITV has pushed back against these claims, with an insider stating that Schofield was “lying again” and asserting that he resigned after admitting to lying about the affair, not because of his brother’s case. An independent investigation by Jane Mulcahy KC for ITV also concluded that the network had tried to uncover the truth about Schofield’s relationship since 2019 but found no evidence until his confession in 2023.
The potential “secrets” might lie in the strained relationship between Schofield and his former co-host Holly Willoughby, once a close friend. Reports suggest Schofield reported Willoughby to ITV bosses when she refused to publicly support him during the scandal, and he later referred to her as a “witch” in subsequent comments. Additionally, his daughter Molly Lowe’s involvement in a secret meeting with ITV to demand an apology from the network hints at behind-the-scenes efforts to salvage his reputation or position, though these efforts failed.
Still, with the information available, it’s unclear whether additional undisclosed factors—such as pressure from ITV leadership, internal agreements, or details about how the network managed the crisis—contributed to Schofield’s departure. The debate continues, with some viewing him as a victim of circumstance and others seeing him as the architect of his own downfall. What do you think about this story? Is there any aspect you’d like to explore further?
