Riddle of It’s A Sin’s claim ‘everyone knew Phillip Schof ield was gay’ in 80s
IT IS the current must-watch TV show, winning critical acclaim for its uncompromising depiction of life as a gay man in the 1980s.
But It’s A Sin viewers raised an eyebrow following a reference to TV presenter Phillip Schofield’s sexuality on the show.
In the 1980s, Schofield was a heart-throb for millions of girls as he presented Children’s BBC shows from ‘the broom cupboard’ with puppet Gordon the Gopher.
He later married and had two children but last year announced he was gay, saying he had not been honest with himself.
In a recent scene in the Channel 4 show, its main character Ritchie Tozer, played by Olly Alexander, is talking to his lover Donald about which celebrities they think are gay. Donald, portrayed by Nathaniel Hall, says: ‘I’ll tell you who else
– Phillip Schofield,’ to which Ritchie replies: ‘If only.’
Donald adds: ‘I had a friend who worked in the broom cupboard, said he’s at it like Billy-o.’
The show’s writer, Russell T Davies, has passed the scene off as a ‘joke’ which had been written and filmed before Schofield’s sexuality was revealed, but many viewers took the comment as fact.
Critics also asked why the script wasn’t edited in the 11 months between Schofield, 58, coming out and the episode being shown.
Davies insisted the reference was simply a coincidence. He said: ‘I never thought that Phillip Schofield was gay. I look a little bit like I’m taking potshots at him now. When that was written and filmed, we’d all presumed he was so straight that that l i ne was no offence, because I was attacking gay men who always presume that the handsome man on television is gay.’
Schofield made the revelation in a statement before sitting down with
Holly Willoughby for an interview on their ITV show This Morning.
He said being gay wasn’t ‘a consideration’ when he married Stephanie, 57, in March 1993. They have two daughters – Molly, 28, and Ruby, 25.
Schofield told a newspaper: ‘I admit I was perhaps a bit naive. But when we got married it was a joyous time and it wasn’t a consideration in my head. I was so, so happy when we had the girls, and then bringing them up.
‘You never know what is going on in someone’s head when you think they are leading the perfect life. And I was. But then it was there.
‘I thought maybe I was bisexual. But over time I realised and started coming to terms with it. I realised I had to be honest with myself.’
Schofield has yet to comment on the It’s A Sin reference.