Phillip Schofield’s young lover ‘became fed up of lying about relationship’

Phillip Schofield, 61, released a statement confirming his affair with a younger, male colleague on Friday, reportedly after his now-former flame told his lawyers about what happened and became “fed up of lying” about the pair’s relationship.

According to the Daily Mail, the 61-year-old was “forced to confirm allegations of an affair were true because his former lover – who had also worked on This Morning – had unexpectedly confessed all to his lawyers.

“Schofield had hired top law firm Mishcon de Reya to represent the young man, now in his mid 20s, presumably believing that he would keep quiet.”

“But his former lover told lawyers that although he feared exposure, he was fed up lying about the relationship.”

The ex-This Morning presenter apparently first met his future colleague when he was in his early 40s.

Read more: Phillip Schofield’s young lover ‘was just 15 when they first met’

Schofield was reportedly invited to talk at a school in the North West of England when the schoolboy, then 15, asked him for a job.

It’s alleged that the unnamed man then became a production assistant at ITV when he turned 18, and that was when the “consensual on-off relationship” is thought to have begun.

The affair was confirmed by Schofield but his former co-host, Holly Willoughby, 42, stated that the admission was “very hurtful”.

Phillip said in his statement that he had “met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him get into television”.

He also said it was only after he “started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship”.

“That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is over now,” he added.

Following the statement, Holly took to her Instagram last night and wrote: “When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.“

“It’s been very hurtful to find out that this was a lie.”

The revelations come after the 61-year-old stepped down from presenting This Morning last weekend.

At the time, the exit was thought to be related to a rumoured fallout between himself and Holly.

Following the bombshells, ITV has issued a statement claiming there are no plans to axe This Morning.

A spokesperson said: “As we said on the record yesterday, This Morning is not under review and there’s no plans for the show to be axed.“

“This Morning will return as normal tomorrow.”