Former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield has been dropped as an ambassador by The Prince’s Trust. It comes after his admission of an affair with a young male colleague.
The charity, founded by the King, said it was “no longer appropriate” for it to work with the presenter, who left This Morning last week after two decades as host.
A Prince’s Trust spokesperson said: “In light of Phillip’s recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together.”
Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV on Friday and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.
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The relationship took place while the TV star was still married to wife Stephanie Lowe and before he came out publicly as gay. Schofield is in a group photo which is still on the charity’s website featuring the King and other celebrity ambassadors.
Since Schofield’s resignation, This Morning has been plagued by allegations of “toxicity”. Eamonn Holmes said Holly Willoughby should follow Schofield “out the door” of the show.
Holmes, who previously presented ITV’s flagship daytime show on Fridays with wife Ruth Langsford, predicted that Willoughby will not return to the sofa after Schofield’s exit.
Willoughby is due to return to the show on Monday June 5 after the half-term break, having taken an early holiday after news of Schofield’s departure emerged. Speaking on Dan Wootton’s GB News show on Monday morning, Holmes said: “Not only should Phillip go, but Holly should follow him close out the door.
“I don’t think you will ever see Holly Willoughby back on the couch. There are people who say for her it’s not about what Phillip did, for her it’s not about protecting the young fellow involved or whatever.
“There are people who are financial experts who will say this is about brand protection with her. She’s got her company and she’s got advertising deals, which suspiciously looks like she’s trying to distance herself from Phillip to protect those.”
She has lucrative deals with Marks & Spencer and Garnier and has a lifestyle brand called Wylde Moon. Representatives for Willoughby have been contacted for comment.
Holmes, who said he was “tossed out the door” when he was given the boot from ITV, alleged there was a “total cover-up” on This Morning over Schofield’s affair.
He told Wootton: “Those in authority had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge a bullet with this, which they do, and they do constantly, because with Schofield talking about those who speak out against him, namely me, Amanda Holden and you (Dan Wootton), you’ll be included in the toxicity that goes on. Dr Ranj, of course, as well.
“And you simply sit there and think, ‘No, mate. You’ve had it all your way for too long’.”
The show’s former resident doctor, Dr Ranj Singh, has hit out at the show’s “toxic” culture, saying he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” two years ago when he worked there and afterwards felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.
On Saturday, an ITV spokesperson said: “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.”
In an Instagram post earlier on Monday, Schofield hit back at his critics, saying there was “no toxicity” on This Morning.
He added: “I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.”
Holmes responded: “I think that Phillip is absolutely right about toxicity. But, my friend, the toxicity is not with me, Dan Wootton, or anyone else. The toxicity is with you.
“This nonsense that he wrote today about toxicity, about how (This Morning) is a happy place or whatever, holy God, what planet does this man live on?
“He created an atmosphere where people hated him.
“People would avoid him in the corridor. He didn’t look at anybody, didn’t know anybody’s name.
“Holly doesn’t know people’s names either. This is legendary within the production team, how distant they are and how they just don’t care.”
Schofield declined to comment on the claims in the interview on GB News.
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