One year on from his ITV departure, Woman takes a look at Phillip Schofield’s career demise, and his hopes for a comeback
WORDS: ARIANA LONGSON. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY, GETTY, J&W_IMAGES/BACKGRID, ITV
It’s been a year since life changed for Phillip Schofield. The presenter stepped down from This Morning after more than 20 years before quitting ITV following his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger colleague. Since then the disgraced star, 62, has maintained a low profile.
Yet after a year out of the spotlight and with Woman recently reporting that he could be ready to share his side of the story in a tell-all book deal – a source told us, ‘Many people still hang that cloud of doubt over him and that feels unfair when he hasn’t properly had his say’ – Phil has been pictured out and about recently, which suggests things could be returning to some normality. Will he be ready to speak out and get back to public life?
Following his sensational exit from TV, the former Dancing on Ice presenter went into hiding before holing up in Cornwall with his elderly mum. At the time a source close to the family said, ‘Phil adores his mum and wanted to be with her during the difficult time,’ adding, ‘The family are taking it day by day.’
A friend close to the star revealed, ‘Phillip isn’t returning anywhere. He has been in a really bad place since he decided to tell the truth and resign from his job.’ They went to say that Phil was particularly struggling ahead of the ITV report into his conduct following claims of toxicity. ‘He has got himself into a cocoon and he is continuing to recover. He has had the report hanging over his head for a long time. It has been a thing of dread for him.’
Moving forward
The inquiry was clearly a key reason why Phillip was laying low, because since the publishing of the review in December, which determined that there was ‘no finding of a “toxic” culture’ at This Morning, a friend of the former presenter says he’s doing much better and is now hoping to ‘start to build a life of some kind’.
The star is now no longer avoiding the public eye. Just last month, days after their 31st wedding anniversary, Phil was pictured walking with his wife Steph. A source explained, ‘Phil has caused his wife a lot of hurt in recent times. But there’s no denying they still have a great friendship and share a lot of love.’
The couple have two daughters, Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28. Molly, who used to work for talent agency YMU – which
