Phillip Schofield made a substantial payment to a colleague with whom he had an affair, under a non-disclosure agreement, his lawyers have confirmed. The former This Morning presenter left ITV last year after admitting that he had lied about the relationship.
The payment, first reported by the Mail on Sunday, is claimed to be a six-figure sum. It was made to help pay the former lover's legal fees as well as compensation for the loss of his job and home, and the arrangement included an NDA for both sides.
Schofield left This Morning last May following reports of a rift with co-star Holly Willoughby. Days later, he confirmed that he had had a "consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague" while still married to Stephanie Lowe. The pair first met when the man was 15; four years later, Schofield helped him secure work experience on the show, and their relationship is believed to have begun when the man was 20 and working as a runner.
In a BBC interview, Schofield described the affair as a "grave error" and said his "career is over". He acknowledged the question of power dynamics, saying: "If it's an abuse of power, it's not in my nature to be that person, but of course it could be perceived as that. But that wasn't how it felt at the time."
An ITV review into the handling of the affair found that the broadcaster had made "considerable efforts" to uncover the truth in 2020, but both parties had "repeatedly denied" the relationship. Schofield "reluctantly declined" to take part, citing risks to his health. Both he and his former partner are said to be in a fragile state.
Last week, This Morning announced that Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard would take over as permanent presenters. Willoughby left the show "for me and my family" five months after the scandal broke.
