Phillip Schofiield's bombshell statement announcing he has quit ITV after having an affair with an younger male employee has left the showbiz world reeling.
The former ITV presenter admitted that he had lied to his management, ITV, his legal team, friends and family about an affair with a much younger ITV employee.
Now, the 61-year-old has admitted engaging in an affair with the man he met when he was just a teenager, insisting nothing romantic happened between them until he turned 18.
In a grovelling statement shared with the media, Phillip said: "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."
Piers Morgan has since shared the news, tweeting: "Blimey..." with a shocked emoji as he shared the story with his followers.
Meanwhile, Vanessa Feltz who was live on GB News with guest, Black Cat Radio presenter and media commentator Nigel Pauley when the news broke was forced to respond live on air.
Nigel said the statement meant that there could be more 'revelations and some more negativity coming out.'
"If an agent drops someone and uses the words honesty and integrity, that's not good," he said.
Vanessa kept composed throughout the chat and nodded her head as her guest discussed the contents of the statement.
Loose Women star Ruth Langsford has been dragged into the alleged ITV cover up row after her husband Eamonn Holmes sensationally claimed they were both 'lied to' as Phillip Schofield went public with his affair.
"Ruth and I have been deceived and lied to. One day I will tell the story," vowed Eamonn.
"We had no issue with him being Gay, only support. What transpired took us for fools. The man told us complete lies and we unfortunately believed him."
Former This Morning presenter Rylan Clark didn't respond to the news but took to Instagram shortly after with a cryptic snap as he held his fingers up in a peace sign while flashing a huge smile.
Meanwhile, This Morning's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh posted: "A storm is coming..."
Alice Beer, who has been This Morning's consumer presenter since 2014 said she is "sad and angry" after hearing of Phil's affair.
She tweeted: "Sad and angry. This sorry mess reflects on all of us who have enjoyed the fun and glory of working on such a successful programme."
While former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson waded into the Schofield affair row where she spoke about "fakes" who "tear people down" before they jump on the "be kind wagon".
Writing on social media, she said: "This industry is so sad. Full of fakes, full of people who can't wait to tear people down and stand on their high horse and blast it all over the news.
"It's not until something drastic happens that then everyone wants to jump on a band wagon of BE KIND. What a sad sad world we live in."
ITV News wrote: "Phillip Schofield has tonight quit ITV after it emerged that he lied about an affair whilst he was still married."
Schofield's statement reads: "I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
"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."
The presenter went on to say: "When I chose to come out I did so entirely for my own wellbeing. Nobody 'forced' me out.
"Neither I nor anyone else, to my knowledge, has ever issued an injunction, super or otherwise, about my relationship with this colleague, he was never moved on or sacked by or because of me.
"In an effort to protect my ex-colleague, I haven't been truthful about the relationship.
"But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake, it is important for me to be honest now.
"I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family.
"I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife."
In a blistering statement Mary Bekhait, Group CEO of YMU Group said: "Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.
"This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him.
"As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect."
