By Steve Hopkins
Recent events at ITV are a ’cause for concern’
Phillip Schofield has been dropped by the Prince’s Trust after admitting he had an affair with a younger male colleague and lied to cover it up while at ITV.
The disgraced presenter, who quit This Morning after almost 20 years last week, has conceded the affair was “unwise” but “not illegal”.
The 61-year-old was previously listed as an ambassador for the organisation, which was founded by King Charles III in 1976 to help disadvantaged people under 30 in the UK.
The charity has said it is “no longer appropriate” to work with him.
A spokesperson for the trust said: “In light of Phillip’s recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together.” The Prince’s Trust has a number of celebrity ambassadors who support the charity through fundraising or promoting its work.
The news comes, The Sun reported, as the firm behind his wine brand pulled the plug on Tuesday. When in Rome joined forces with the star in 2020 to launch two new boxed wines, sold exclusively in Waitrose stores and Waitrose Cellar. Schofield was also dropped by his talent agency YMU.
Representatives from ITV and other channels are due to appear in front of the Commons’ culture, media and sports committee next Tuesday to discuss reforms to the laws governing public broadcasting.
MP John Nicolson, a former BBC journalist who sits on the committee and is also the SNP’s culture spokesman, said on Twitter that recent events at ITV were a “cause for concern” and that he was looking forward to “getting some answers” from ITV bosses.
“Meanwhile SNP MP John Nicolson who sits on the Commons Culture, Media & Sports Committee @commonsdcms said he is looking forward to "getting some answers" from ITV bosses, who are set to appear in front of the committee on Tuesday.” https://t.co/fKq5SAzlLL
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 (@MrJohnNicolson) May 30, 2023
In a statement last Friday – almost a week after he quit This Morning – Schofield apologised for lying repeatedly to hide the relationship with the male employee.
ITV said it was “deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit” made by Schofield and confirmed it had cut all ties with him.
The network said it had investigated rumours of a relationship between Schofield and a younger employee in 2020 – but both “repeatedly denied” it.
ITV said Schofield’s statement, “reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship”.
Schofield will no longer present the British Soap Awards next month and he will no longer front a new prime-time series which the network said last week they were developing with him.
