Phillip Schofield has spoken out on his "massive guilt" following the affair scandal with a younger male colleague while working on This Morning.
The 61-year-old disgraced presenter of the popular ITV daytime magazine programme has spoken out in a bid to address rumours about his affair with the young male show runner who he cheated on his wife with.
Phillip presented his final episode of This Morning on Thursday, May 18, with ITV confirming his immediate exit just two days later. He subsequently parted ways from ITV and his management company.
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 show he had hosted for more 20 years in February 2020, also 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 former This Morning host also apologised to co-star 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 to the Daily Mail 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.
