Phillip Schofield opens up about struggles with his sexuality in new memoir
He said best pal Holly was 'absolutely vital'
Last updated 16th Oct 2020
Phillip Schofield has opened up in depth about what it was like coming out as gay to the nation, and says his best friend Holly Willoughby was 'vital' in the process.
This Morning’s Phillip, who has a wife, Stephanie, and two grown-up daughters, surprised fans back in February when he released a brave statement announcing he was gay. While he always had the support of his family and co-presenter Holly, Phillip recalled how important she actually was in a recent interview.
“Holly was absolutely vital, couldn't have done it with anyone else, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to be sat beside me,” he said on The One Show.
“We had a big lead up, Holly was one of the first people I told when I knew what I had to do, she is such a wise person. She has got such a calm sensitive aura to her, at home everyone was saying it'll be fine and Holly was saying at work, 'it'll be fine', she was the only one that knew at that time at work.”
Phillip has recently released his memoir, Life is What You Make it, and in it he recalled an instance where he was forced to turn back from work hours before filming.
“It was the first time my issues had spilled over into work. Another day I had to leave a fashion item to be sick. I now know that I needed professional help,” he said. “It was a very stupid thing to do... all my closest friends knew how ragged my head was but no one except Steph knew why.
“I sat alone in the flat, staring at the walls, as This Morning started on the other side of London.”
Check out Phillip Schofield's amazing career:
1985: CBBC children's presenter
Phil's big break came as he presented the links between TV shows on CBBC, or children's BBC as it was called then. He did this from 1985 to 1987.
1987: Radio and Going Live!
Phil was also a radio presenter by this point, and presented Saturday morning children's TV show Going Live! from 1987 to 1993.
1992: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
In 1992, Phillip turned his hand to something completely different and appeared on stage as Joseph in the West End production, taking over the role from Jason Donovan. He performed this for five years.
2002: This Morning
Phil took to the This Morning sofa for the first time in 2002, taking over from John Leslie and presenting with Fern Britton. After she left in 2009, Holly Willoughby took up the reins, having worked with Phil on Dancing On Ice.
2006: Dancing On Ice
Speaking of which... Phil co-hosted Dancing On Ice from 2006 with Holly, before she left in 2011 and was replaced by Christine Bleakley until 2014 when the show went on hiatus. When it returned in 2018, Holly and Phil were back at the helm.
2006: The British Soap Awards
In 2006, Phil began hosting The British Soap Awards, and has been doing it annually ever since then!
2008: All Star Mr & Mrs
In 2008, Phil and his then-This Morning co-star Fern Britton began hosting All Star Mr & Mrs. When Fern left in 2010, Phil carried on until the series ended in 2016.
2009: The Cube
Phillip began presenting The Cube in 2009, a game show which saw contestants attempt to tackle the prizes inside the cube for prize money. It was GRIPPING. Sadly, it was taken off-air in 2015.
2017: Schofield's South African Adventure
Schofe got to travel around South Africa for a This Morning segment in 2017. Although there haven't been talks for another series, Phil did tell Lorraine Kelly that he'd "love" to do another one.
2017: 5 Gold Rings
He returned to the game show circuit in 2017, presenting 5 Gold Rings which he still continues to do now.
2018: Coronation Street
In 2018, Phil and Hol made Coronation Street fans very happy with a small cameo. As part of Rosie Webster's exit storyline, the pair interviewed Rosie, Craig Tinker and Gemma Winter.
2019: WeBuyAnyCar.com
On top of everything else he's doing, Phil also appears in adverts for WeBuyAnyCar.com - and his current campaign sees him playing with an ADORABLE puppy! Aww.
2020: Phil comes out as gay
In February 2020, Phil announced he's gay in a heartfelt post on social media.
He then sat down on This Morning for an interview with friend and co-host Holly Willoughby.
Phil told Holly, "It's funny because everyone I've spoken to, and you, have all been so supportive and so loving and caring, and my entire family to a person have grabbed us and said it's ok it's ok, we love you we're proud of you...
"Every person I tell it gets a little lighter and a little lighter, at the same time I have made this decision which is essential for me and essential for my head and that is principally the reason I have done this."
The Million Pound Drop
After a five year break, Phillip is back with popular game show The Cube in October 2020, and this time it's bigger and better! Contestants will play in teams of two and compete for a massive £1 million.
He also said that he had “never lied” to his wife of 27 years Steph and for a long time she was the only person who knew the truth about his sexuality.