Phillip Schofield struggled to hold back his emotions as he broke down in tears while interviewing Dame Kelly Holmes on This Morning. During today's episode of the ITV talk show, the 60-year-old was comforted by co-presenter Holly Willoughby as he momentarily choked up while speaking to the Olympic champion about her coming out journey.
Dame Kelly announced she was gay on Sunday in an article for the Mirror after keeping her sexuality hidden for more than 30 years. The 52-year-old says she realised she was gay at the age of 17 after kissing a fellow female solider while she was in the army, and that her family and friends have known since 1997.
ITV will be airing a documentary titled Being Me next week which focuses on the gold medallist's experiences as she talks to LGBTQ+ soldiers about their lives in the military now. After showing a short preview clip of the documentary, things quickly became emotional on the show as Dame Kelly appeared teary eyed on the This Morning sofa, Manchester Evening News reports.
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"This has been tough, this has been a tough 34 years," Holly said before saying that while family and friends knew, "Publicly saying this out loud and letting everyone know yesterday... waking up this morning, finally having your truth out there, how do you feel?" Dame Kelly admitted to feeling both "relief and apprehension".
"I was at home and on social media and the reaction was amazing but I still felt it wasn't the real world and coming out today and sitting here now, it feels like the real world and it's really hard," she added. "I've been having interviews for years but this is such a huge step for me to be open and honest."
Phillip, who himself revealed he was gay in February 2021, then added: "It's not that long ago that I sat over there in exactly that place and one day, we won't have to do these interviews. One day it won't matter and one day we will just be able to be you and get on with your life. However, we're not quite there yet."
Dame Kelly revealed she had a "really bad" breakdown in December 2020 and knew at that point she "had to do something". She added: "I talk very openly about my mental health but I've always been able to relate it to sport. Yes, there was an element of that because I've wanted to be Olympic champion since I was 14 but I became a self-harmer, I didn't want to be here, frankly, at some points in my life."
She began to cry as she continued: "I've been in a bad way a lot and 2020 I had a really bad breakdown and knew if I couldn't release it, I didn't know what I was going to do, so I had to do it."
An equally emotional Phillip then said: "Yesterday, you said on Instagram that you were scared. I think I wrote back 'don't be scared' because it'll be ok..." before struggling to hold back his tears. Holly consoled her co-host as he braved through his tears, adding: "How do you feel now?"
Dame Kelly replied: "I am relieved to finally do it but it's hard to unravel everything so I know I'll feel the relief gradually and I think the responses have been really helping me, ever if I don't look it."
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