Phillip Schofield has returned to This Morning and thanked fans for their support after his brother was convicted of sexually abusing a teenager.
The 61-year-old, who appeared on the screen for the first time in three weeks on Monday, has not been on the show since Timothy Schofield went on trial at the end of March.
Sitting alongside Rochelle Humes, the presenter first wished his co-host Holly Willoughby a speedy recovery after she announced she would be absent from the show after developing shingles. He then went on to acknowledge the support he’s received amid his younger brother’s conviction.
Broadly addressing the situation, he simply said: “I’d just like to say, it is really lovely to be back. I have missed the show and everyone here and also to you.
“I wanted to say thank you for your kind messages and support which were really appreciated. Thank you very much indeed. On with the show... Shall we?”
At the beginning of April, the TV presenter’s brother was found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a period of three years.
Timothy Schofield was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court.
The 54-year-old, a civilian police worker from Bath, told the jury while giving evidence that he had watched pornography with the boy, whom he insisted was over the age of 16 at that time, and they had masturbated while sitting apart, but denied performing sexual acts on the teenager.
The boy, who alleged the offending started when he was 13, told the jury he felt “emotionally blackmailed” by Schofield and “forced” to participate in sexual activity.
Timothy Schofield denied the charges but was convicted of three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, three of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of sexual activity with a child.
Judge Mrs Justice Cutts remanded him in custody ahead of sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on May 19.
In a statement released by his lawyer after the verict, TV presenter Phillip said: “My overwhelming concern is and has always been for the wellbeing of the victim and his family. I hope that their privacy will now be respected.
“If any crime had ever been confessed to me by my brother, I would have acted immediately to protect the victim and their family.
“These are despicable crimes, and I welcome the guilty verdicts. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.”
