Eamonn Holmes reacted with anger while discussing the return of former colleague Phillip Schofield to mainstream TV after an 18-month absence. Schofield’s new series, Cast Away, has divided Channel 5 viewers as it marks his return to television following a scandal where he admitted to lying about an affair with a young male runner. Holmes, who has previously stated his dislike for Schofield, accused him of being ‘addicted to fame’ and ‘deserving’ of exile. Schofield’s affair began when he met the boy at the age of 15 after being hired as an ITV production assistant when he was 18.
During the discussion on GB News, Holmes became agitated when the co-host mentioned that Schofield hadn’t done anything illegal in regards to the affair, questioning why that was relevant. Schofield himself referred to his own actions as ‘shamed’ and ‘disgraced’, acknowledging that other TV presenters might have done the same, but suggesting that there was a difference in acceptance in the gay world. Despite accusations of grooming, Schofield maintains that he strongly denies these claims. An external review by ITV found that the channel had made considerable efforts to discover the truth about the affair but did not find conclusive evidence.
Schofield has faced accusations of lying after blaming his brother Timothy for the collapse of his career. Timothy was convicted of sexual offenses involving a child, including two counts of sexual activity with a child, leading to Schofield claiming he was fired for someone else’s crime. However, ITV insiders have dismissed this claim, stating that Schofield resigned after admitting he had lied about the affair. The presenter opened up about the impact of these events on his personal and professional life, emphasizing the distress it caused his family.
In the final episode of Schofield’s Cast Away series, he revealed that he was let go from This Morning due to the bad publicity surrounding his brother’s crimes and his own affair. His daughter, Molly, spoke out about the difficulties her family faced during this time, emphasizing how the scandal brought them closer together. Despite the challenges, she expressed pride in her father and the support he received from others. Schofield has remained married to Stephanie Lowe, with whom he shares two daughters, even after publicly coming out as gay in 2020.
Schofield has been open about the challenges he faced following the revelations of his affair and his brother’s crimes. His exit from This Morning in 2023 marked the end of his television career, with friends expressing uncertainty about his future in the industry. Channel 5’s decision to air his series marked his return to TV, showing that there may be opportunities for him in the future. While facing scrutiny and criticism, Schofield remains resilient and determined to navigate the aftermath of his personal and professional challenges. His series, Cast Away, offers a glimpse into the difficulties he has faced and the impact on his life and career.
