Phillip Schofield’s wife Stephanie has stood by his side through him coming out as gay and his later admission of his affair with a far younger man
Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie Lowe(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Phillip Schofield’s return to TV has shocked many with the star unexpectedly making a comeback after months of staying out of the limelight.
He was last seen on screens early last year presenting ITV daytime programme This Morning with co-star at the time Holly Willoughby. However, he sensationally quit his role on the popular show after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger male colleague. After the scandal emerged, he stepped from all of his public-facing jobs.
But, 16 months after the scandal came out, he decided to start secretly filming for Channel 5’s Cast Away. In the programme, viewers will see a dishevelled Schofield stranded on a tropical island for 10 days. He will discuss the past two years of his life while on this island.
Phillip’s family have remained by his side but his wife has voiced her concerns(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
After the announcement, his wife Stephanie, who stayed friends with him through everything, finally broke her silence on the whole scandal having previously remained silent over his affair. She shared her fears about the reaction to his affair and the domino effect that it has on his loved ones. She said: “What people don’t realise is that they batter you but then there are other people affected. There’s no question that by doing this you’re popping your head back up above the parapet for the very few horrid people that there are out there.”
Phillip, 62, came out as gay in February 2020 but whilst on the desert Island he admits it was not as freeing for him as it can be for some people and came with its own problems. He explained: “I’m very proud of what I did, and I know that coming out for many people is liberating….but for me doing it later in life, at the moment it’s just given me more anguish than joy because I am fully aware of the damage that is leaves.”
Phillip and his daughter, Molly
His daughter Molly also shared her support for the star and admitted everything that happened in the last year brought the family “closer” together. She said they have seen him at “his lowest times” and added that she is “so proud of him”. She explained: “And as a daughter to see the love that people had for him that when it’s taken away it’s just heartbreaking.”
In the trailer for his divisive return, Phillip is seen wandering across a deserted beach wearing a white shirt, beige shorts and a hat. Captions along the video read: “One celebrity. On a desert island. Totally alone. With one chance to finally tell his story.”
