In May 2023, Phillip Schofield announced that he would be stepping down from hosting This Morning after 21 years on the famous couch. In the same statement he said that he would also be leaving ITV.
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The reason for this sudden exit was revealed by Schofield in a statement released on 27 May. In it he admitted to having an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger member of staff whom he knew when he was underage.
Since then, Phillip Schofield has been keeping a low profile. In a short amount of time, ITV’s star presenter lost everything including the support of many of his former colleagues. But now, months after the fact, Richard Madeley has decided to call out ITV for how they handled the situation.
Phillip Schofield leaves ITV
Phillip Schofield hosted This Morning for 21 years. In those years he came a part of people’s lives and a major figure of British TV.
When he first announced his departure from the show many paid tribute to him. Friday hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary even did so, live on air, on a Friday.
O’Leary said:
Everyone on and off screen at ITV and This Morning want to say a huge thank you to Phil for what he's done to make the show such a success over the last 21 years.
Hammond added,
Quite simply, we all know he's one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had, and we and all the team wish him all the best for the future.
At the time, even Holly Willoughby paid tribute to him saying that the ‘sofa won't feel the same without him.’
But this support quickly faded when the affair came to light.
Richard Madeley calls out ITV
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, former This Morning host Richard Madeley talked about the treatment Phillip Schofield received from ITV. For Madeley, the way the channel behaved after enjoying the popularity of Schofield for more than 20 years was wrong.
He said:
It seemed quite brutal to be honest. It seemed a pretty savage outcome after 21 years (in the job)
Madeley also revealed that he had kept in touch with Schofield as the scandal unfolded.
I took a paternal interest in it - I kept in touch, told him to take it easy and that it’ll be alright
Politicians say they’re only one debate away from a catastrophe and it’s the same in our industry.
Read more:
⋙ Phillip Schofield: The disgraced presenter is reported to have mended this crucial relationship
⋙ Can This Morning survive without Phillip Schofield amid massive NTA loss?
⋙ This Morning: Can the ITV show be saved? Fans believe the show is 'dying a slow death'
Sources:
The Sun: I’ve kept in touch with my old pal Phillip Schofield – his axe was pretty savage and brutal, says Richard Madeley
Sky News: Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary pay tribute to Phillip Schofield on This Morning
Independent: Phillip Schofield’s statement in full addressing ‘This Morning’ affair scandal
