Piers Morgan has given his thoughts on the news of Phillip Schofield's affair with a 'much younger' employee whilst he working at ITV. On Friday night, he confirmed he had parted ways with his management and ITV, while saying he had a relationship with a 'younger' member of staff.
Mr Schofield admitted to lying to his management, ITV, his legal team, and friends and family about the affair. He stepped back from his role fronting This Morning in an abrupt exit after 21 years alongside co-star Holly Willoughby amid reports the pair's relationship had 'cooled', Daily Record reports.
And now former Good Morning Britain host Piers has had his say, writing on Twitter: "Blimey..." with a shocked face emoji.
Phillip 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 according to reports in the Mirror.
In a 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."
Phillip'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 added: "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."
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