Phillip Schofield has broken his silence on the "massive guilt" he is feeling following the affair scandal with a younger male colleague whilst he was presenting This Morning.
The shamed former TV presenter has spoken out in a bid to address the rumours about the affair he had with a younger male runner who he cheated on his wife with.
On Thursday, May 18, Phil presented the final episode of This Morning with ITV confirming his immediate exit just two days later.
Subsequently, he made the decision to resign from ITV altogether and his management company dropped him following the confirmation of the 'unwise' affair.
Speaking in an interview with The Sun, Phillip admitted that the "lies grew bigger and bigger", which affected both parties involved in the affair, he claims.
Phillip, who came out as gay on the ITV daytime show which he had hosted for more than 20 years, added that keeping the relationship under wraps spiralled "out of control".
He said: "At the time I did not think about it possibly ruining my career. I really probably only thought about it when I saw the rumour mill, and saw it growing.
"The lies grew bigger and bigger and bigger and it was affecting both of us deeply. It got to the stage where it was out of control and for whatever cost, it had to stop.
"I have massive guilt, and regret. I’ve made a mistake, I’ve had an affair at work."
Phillip continued: "I am deeply sorry and I apologise to him because I should have known better. I should have acted the way I have always acted. I should not have done it.
"I’m sorry. And I will forever be sorry. I will die sorry. I am so deeply mortified."
In the interview, Phillip insisted his six-month relationship with the runner started when the man was 20 and admitted he is still friends with his former colleague.
The dad-of-two also apologised to his co-star and former best mate Holly Willoughby for breaking up their TV partnership and friendship as he confirmed the ex-presenting duo no longer speak.
Phillip has now said the pair have broken all contact, following his brother's imprisonment.
His brother Timothy was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy.
In a statement announcing his affair on Friday, May 26, Phillip wrote: "The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning.
"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."
Phillip has also spoken to the BBC's Amol Rajan, whose interview will be broadcast from 06:00 BST on Friday.
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