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UK presenter Philip Schofield has admitted having an extramarital affair with his wife, a young ITV worker, at his agency YMU for 35 years.
UK TV’s Evergreen issued a lengthy apology – which you can read below – via the UK edition of The Daily Mail.
YMU Group CEO Mary Beckite said today: “Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s entire business, underpinning everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.
She continued: “This week we learned important new information about our client Philip Schofield. These facts contradict what Philip previously told YMU.
The external consultants we brought in to support him. Because of this, we agreed to part ways with Philip on Thursday.
Schofield responded through his attorneys: “After 35 years of impeccable leadership at YMU, it is with great regret that I have agreed to resign my position.”
The agency’s collapse follows Schofield’s bombshell exit from the hit ITV show last week. this morningHe hosted us together for twenty years. That exit followed reports that his relationship with co-star Holly Willoughby had become strained and that his exit was linked to his relationship with a young ITV worker. Schofield says ITV understands the current situation has been decided. [could] Don’t go on.”
In a lengthy statement to the Daily Mail today, the presenter said: “I had an affair with my younger male partner. this morning. Contrary to popular belief, I met the man when he was a teenager and when he was asked to help him get into television, it was only after he started working on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It’s over now.”
At the time of the incident, Scofield was still married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe. The presenter opened up about being gay in 2020, but remained married to Lowe.
Schofield has confirmed to the Daily Mail that he will not be presenting the British soap awards next week – a role he has held since 2006.
You can read Scofield’s full statement to the Daily Mail below:
“I made this statement to the Daily Mail a few days ago where I personally apologized for the misleading story they wanted to write about me.
The first thing I want to say is: I am very sorry for lying to a co-worker and many others this morning. This morning I had an arranged relationship with a young male colleague.
Contrary to popular belief, I met the man when he was a teenager and when he was asked to help him get into television, it was only after he started working on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It’s over now.
When I chose to come out, I did so for my own safety. No one “forced” me out. Neither I nor any other person, so far as I know, has ever had any super or other order issued, moved or dismissed on my account, in regard to my relations with this colleague.
In an effort to protect my former colleague, I did not tell the truth about the relationship.
But my recent, unrelated, departure from this morning has fueled speculation and raised questions about his impact, so for his sake it’s important to be honest now.
I am deeply sorry that I lied to my employers at ITV, my colleagues and friends, my agents, the media and the public and most importantly my family. I am very, very sorry for not being faithful to my wife.
I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public engagement, and to leave ITV with immediate effect, expressing my deepest gratitude for the wonderful opportunities that have been given to me.
I reflect on my bad judgment in both engaging in relationships and lying.
I will not name the individual to protect his privacy and my deepest wish is that he and his family can continue to live their lives free of further intrusion and allow this statement to be made.
I now ask the media to respect privacy. They did nothing wrong; And I ask that their privacy be respected.’
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