Phillip Schofield says he was fired from ITV ‘for his brother’s crime’

Phillip Schofield has pointed the finger at his brother for his exit from ITV, claiming he was let go due to someone else's wrongdoing.

In the last episode of Channel 5's Phillip Schofield: Cast Away, the 62-year-old former This Morning host mentioned that he had always been straightforward with his colleagues regarding the situation involving his 54-year-old brother, Timothy. Timothy was found guilty in April 2023 of 11 sexual crimes related to a child, which took place between October 2016 and October 2019, including charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor.

During the interview, he expressed that he would not “name or recognize” his brother, whom he alleged he had “no hesitation at all in reporting” to the authorities. “Despite knowing all the details, the media depicted me as if I were an accomplice,” he remarked. “That's when everything in my life began to fall apart. It was really difficult to explain that situation to my mother, sharing that news about a family member with her was heartbreaking.”

"I had to explain everything to the higher-ups at ITV, making sure they understood the complete situation so they could see that I hadn't done anything wrong. I needed to share every detail."

Schofield mentioned that the day before his brother's sentencing, his agent reached out to inform him that he was being released from his role on This Morning. He was told, "It's over. You won't be returning on Monday." According to Schofield, this decision was due to "the media attention."

He remarked, "I was always straightforward and transparent with my coworkers regarding my brother's situation. I lost my job due to the negative attention, despite being innocent of any wrongdoing."

"About a week later, I found myself in a really tough spot because of my actions. I realized that the only way to start making amends for everyone involved was to completely own up to what I did."

Schofield acknowledged having a hidden relationship with a younger male coworker at ITV, but he firmly rejects the claims of grooming.

Even though the Channel 5 show suggested otherwise, Schofield stated over a year ago that he chose to leave This Morning, claiming he had resigned. He refuted the idea that he was "pushed out" and expressed deep regret for deceiving ITV, his coworkers, his wife, and his friends.

An independent assessment conducted by Jane Mulcahy KC for ITV revealed that the network made significant attempts to investigate claims of an affair between Schofield and a show runner in 2019. However, they were unable to uncover any proof to support the rumors.

According to a report from December 2023, Schofield "hesitantly chose not to participate" in the investigation due to concerns about his "health risks."

Mulcahy mentioned that during the time frame she examined, she did not discover any signs of a harmful culture. She encouraged ITV to support younger staff members who may feel that voicing their concerns could negatively affect their professional futures.

By the conclusion of the Channel 5 show, Schofield mentioned that he was uncertain about his future as a presenter.

Phillip Schofield: Cast Away will be broadcast over three nights starting Monday at 9 PM on Channel 5 and can be streamed on My5. ITV has been approached for a statement.