Embattled ITV anchor Phillip Schofield who dramatically quit the network last Saturday after admitting to an affair with a young employee on his show has said he did not groom the PA in his first interview about the scandal.
Schofield, who spent two decades as the lead anchor on ITVs daytime show This Morning, maintains that the relationship didnt begin until the young man (whom Variety has agreed not to name at his request) was legally an adult. The man first began working on ITV show This Morning as an intern at the age of 19 (reportedly securing the internship with Schofields assistance) and was hired as a runner/PA the following year.
Asked directly about claims he groomed the PA, who reportedly first met Schofield when he was just 15 years old, the anchor replied: I did not. I did not. I mean there are accusations of all sorts of things.
In an interview with British tabloid The Sun, Schofield said: He worked at the show for a bit, we became mates, and then one day something happened that just changed it. And thats the moment I look back on.
I absolutely know, there is no question, I did a bad thing, he continued. Unprofessional. First time. I know. I know I did that. And theres no excuse. I dont have an excuse. I wont put forward an excuse.
My biggest regret was getting into a relationship at work.
Schofield, who is married with two children, stepped down from This Morning two weeks ago after reports surfaced he had fallen out with his long-time co-anchor Holly Willoughby. The duo, who were once so close they would vacation together with their families, had reportedly drifted apart over the last few years.
According to tabloids, the final nail in the coffin of their relationship was Schofields failure to warn Willoughby he was taking a leave of absence from the show while his younger brother Timothy stood trial for sexual offences against a child.
Schofield stayed off air for three weeks between March and April, during which the anchor gave evidence to the trial via a written statement. Timothy was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison two weeks ago. Schofield resigned from This Morning the following day, suggesting in a statement it had not been his decision but ITVs.
One week later, as rumors grew to a crescendo about why he had left the show, Schofield dropped a bombshell statement admitting he had had an affair with the PA/runner.
In his new interview, Schofield who has worked with Willoughby since they were first paired together for ITV show Dancing on Ice in 2006 said he has not spoken to his co-anchor since texting her last week. Last time we had a conversation was when I texted Holly and said Dont reply this is after the statement last week Dont reply, youre probably not allowed to, but Im deeply, deeply sorry that I lied to you,' he told the Sun. And I am. It was the one secret in our sanctuary that was never mentioned.
Although both Willoughby and ITV claim Schofield lied to them about his affair after they confronted him directly, questions are now being asked about whether more should have been done to ensure the PAs welfare. ITV boss Carolyn McCall has been called to appear before the CMS committee later this month to answer questions about safeguarding and complaint handling.
When asked to whom Schofield would offer his biggest apology, he replied: To every single person I am deeply sorry. And I apologise to [the PA] because I should have known better.
For a full timeline of the Schofield saga click here.