‘I wasn’t being honest with myself’: Schofield

This Morning presenter talks publicly about his sexuality

TV presenter Phillip Schofield became emotional and said he “wasn’t being honest with myself” as he talked publicly about his sexuality for the first time.

The This Morning host spoke to his co-presenter, Holly Willoughby, on the ITV show after revealing on his Instagram stories that he had “been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay”.

Schofield, who has been a fixture on the programme since 2002, has been married to wife Steph for more than 20 years and they have two daughters – Molly and Ruby.

He and Willoughby appeared as guests on the show, which on a Friday morning is normally hosted by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.

The 57-year-old spoke of the support he has received, telling Willoughby: “It’s funny because everyone I have spoken to, you have all been so supportive, so loving and caring.

“My entire family, to a person, have grabbed us and said ‘It’s OK, we love you, we are proud of you’, and every person I tell, it gets a little lighter and a little lighter.

“But at the same time I’ve made this decision, which is essential for me and for my head, which is the reason why I’ve done this, I’m very aware that Steph and

“I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay. PHILLIP SCHOFIELD

the girls are at home watching this. They have been supporting this as we got to this moment.”

He added that he was “very aware, there is no question that it causes pain and it causes upset”.

He said he has “no secrets” from his wife, adding: “We have never had any secrets.

“It’s tough, this is not something that has happened quickly, I’ve had to deal with this in my head for quite some time. We’ve been honest and open.”

After Willoughby commented that he had not had his “hand forced” to make the announcement, he said: “This is my decision. This is absolutely my decision. It was something I knew that I had to do.”

Before being joined by Holmes and Langsford on the show, he added: “All you can be in your life is honest with yourself and I was getting to the point where I wasn’t being honest with myself and I didn’t like myself very much because I wasn’t being honest with myself.”

Asked about the future and any “relationships that may develop”, he said: “No, I’m not thinking there. I’m doing each day at a time now and this has always been a slow process. There is no fast process after this. This is the big day and this is the day I knew everything was pointing towards.”

Following a round of hugs, Holmes praised him, saying: “Nobody should be embarrassed about their sexuality and it’s fantastic you have spoken out and there will be so many people who have been strengthened by what you’ve said.”

Alongside a photograph of herself with Schofield, Willoughby wrote on Instagram: “Never been more proud of my friend than I am today.”

TV presenter Phillip Schofield on ITV’S This Morning talking with Holly Willoughby about his announcement that he is gay. Picture: PA.