This Morning star Dermot O’Leary has refused to comment on Phillip Schofield’s bombshell confession to an affair with a much younger member of ITV staff while he was still married.
Dermot claims that he 'doesn't know anything' and said he feels it would be 'inappropriate' for him to comment on the explosive revelations and Phil's admission he lied about the affair.
Phillip, 61, has since been dropped by his talent agency YMU after the affair, which was not illegal, and has also stepped down from ITV completely – meaning he will no longer host the British Soap Awards next week.
In a bombshell statement, which can be read here in full, Phillip admitted the affair but refused to name his former colleague, with whom he had a relationship with.
ITV bosses and fans alike are shocked by Phillip Schofield's statement and admission of his affair.
As the fallout of Phil's bombshell statement rumbles on, 50-year-old Dermot declined to comment on the matter when approached by press.
The former X Factor host was questioned about Phillip's affair by a Sky News reporter as he walked down the street in London on Saturday.
As the This Morning host was quizzed on Phillip's recent admission, Dermot replied: "I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment, if that’s okay.
"Sorry, I know you’ve been waiting a long time. But like I said, I don’t think it’s appropriate, especially with no knowledge, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on a story I don’t know."
While Holly Willoughby has since broken her silence on Phillip confession, claiming that she is deeply 'hurt' by her former friend's handling of the situation.
Holly's statement read: "It's taken time to process yesterday's news.
"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 now find out that this was a lie. Holly."
It comes after The Mirror confirmed that Phillip's former talent agency YMU, who have now blasted the star, parted ways with the presenter on Thursday – with Phillip later sharing a statement to admit to the affair and apologise.
YMU Entertainment and Phillip released separate statements about 'parting company' with 'immediate effect'.
"Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust," YMU stated.
"This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him.
"As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect."
Phillip said: "It is with the most profound regret that after 35 years of being faultlessly managed by YMU I have agreed to step down from their representation with immediate effect."
In a later statement, which Phillip shared with the press, he admitted to having an affair with a younger ITV employee.
"I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, 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 now over," he said.
He also revealed he has quit ITV altogether, which means he won't be hosting the British Soap Awards next week.
In the lengthy statement, Phillip said he was "deeply sorry" to his lawyers for "misleading" them on a story, which was set to be published earlier this week about the affair.
He added how he had "not been truthful" about the relationship in "an effort to protect my ex-colleague".
Phillip insisted his recent departure from This Morning was "unrelated" but had "fuelled speculation and raised questions", which he says have been "impacting" his ex.
He added: "For his sake it is important for me to be honest now".
The former presenter, who had hosted This Morning from 2002, added how he was "painfully conscious" that he had "lied" to his employers at ITV as well as colleagues, friends, agents, the media, the public and "most importantly of all to my family".
In the lengthy apology, he added: "I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife."
An ITV spokesperson told the Mirror: "We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield.
"The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Philip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down.
"We accept his resignation from ITV and therefore can confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as had previously been stated."
A later statement from the broadcaster insisted they launched an investigation into the alleged affair – but they were lied to.
The statement read: "Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.
"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
"Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."
