One of British television’s most popular daytime shows is in crisis, sparked by the news that one of its co-presenters had an affair with a younger colleague.
The scandal has for days dominated news headlines and upended the clean-cut image of This Morning, a show known for its daily dose of news, light entertainment and recipes.
An almost ever-present figure on British daytime TV, Phillip Schofield suddenly quit when he admitted he had lied about the relationship to his employer, broadcaster ITV, and his wife, agent and lawyer.
A frenzy of media speculation and gossip preceded the revelation, and Schofield has now told the BBC he believes his career is over – apologising for a “grave error” of judgement.
So what is this scandal about and why has it gripped the UK?
From TV’s ‘golden couple’ to Queue-gate
The 61-year-old has presented This Morning for the past 20 years. It is a mid-morning show predominantly made up of celebrity interviews, entertainment news, current affairs, cooking and consumer advice.
He and co-host Holly Willoughby were widely known as “daytime TV’s golden couple”. Viewers loved their on-screen affection and easy going chemistry with clips of them breaking into fits of giggles on air together repeatedly went viral.
Schofield came out as gay on the show in 2020 in an emotional and stripped-down interview with Willoughby who was close to tears.
But, in recent weeks, before news of his affair broke, reports their friendship was souring emerged.
Before the most recent tabloid headlines there was a lot of negative press coverage around so-called “Queue-gate”, where the pair were seen by many to have skipped the miles-long queue to view the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, which was lying in state.
Though they were granted formal press access along with other journalists, this contrasted with celebrities like footballer David Beckham who had joined members of the public queuing outside.
Then in April, Schofield’s brother Timothy was found guilty of sexually abusing a boy. Philip Schofield took time off from the show during his brother’s court trial and some fans declared they preferred Willoughby’s dynamic with her temporary co-host.
Schofield in turn released a statement about the reported feud, saying things “haven’t been easy for either of us”, but that Willoughby was his “rock”.
She did not publicly respond and they presented another show together without referencing reports about their friendship.