He looked in high spirits during a stroll in the capital with pals
PHILLIP Schofield was all smiles during an afternoon out with friends, after it was revealed Ben Shephard will replace him on This Morning.
Phillip, 61, left all his roles at ITV last year after he admitted he lied about a consensual affair with a younger male colleague.
Phillip Schofield was all smiles during an afternoon out with friends | Credit: Splash
He was photographed going for a walk in Central London dressed in blue | Credit: Splash
At the time, friends claimed he had no plans to return to the spotlight anytime soon and will continue to “cocoon himself” at his London home.
But new pictures show the star looking in high spirits during a stroll in the capital with his pals Scott Brown and Josh Sharman.
He was seen wearing a blue denim shirt and jeans with a navy blazer and a pair of Converse trainers.
His appearance comes amid news that Phillip’s spot on the This Morning sofa is going to be taken by Good Morning Britain and Tipping Point host Ben, 49.
The Sun revealed last year that the host was likely to bank £550,000 a year for the job — £150,000 less than Phil.
A source explained “Ben is a consummate professional and hugely popular with the housewife demographic.”
He is long expected to have been paired with Cat Deeley but she’s faced the prospect of having to choose between This Morning and her US hit So You Think You Can Dance?
Meanwhile Phillip has not appeared on TV since being axed from This Morning in May last year and was also replaced on Dancing on Ice by Stephen Mulhern.
The star then admitted he’d had the affair after rumours started circulating.
An external probe into his affair with a colleague reported that just one person who had been interviewed knew about their relationship – and they only became aware in 2021.
The runner, who was at least 30 years Schofield’s junior, started at ITV in 2017 and the presenter admitted they shared a moment in his dressing room that same year.
The ex-This Morning broadcaster and his former lover were meant to be quizzed at length amid the review – after their affair came to light in May.
However, it was later revealed the pair refused to cooperate – along with four others.
Phillip presented This Morning with Holly Willoughby until last year
