Drag Race UK star Cheryl Hole shaded Philip Schofield amid his ongoing This Morning affair scandal.
On 20 May, Schofield shocked TV viewers when he announced his departure from the daytime talk show after 20 years.
“I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind. I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love.”
Schofield added that his leave would take an “immediate effect” before expressing his hopes for the show to “move forward to a bright future”.
Shortly after his abrupt departure, the broadcaster made headlines again after he admitted to having a romantic relationship with a younger colleague – which he claimed was “unwise but not illegal”.
“I am making this statement via the Daily Mail, to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago,” he told the Daily Mail on 26 May.
“The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.”
Following Schofield’s statement, ITV revealed that it previously investigated the rumours in 2020.
“Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated,” they said.
“Both parties were questioned, and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillips then agency YMU.”
After Schofield’s bombshell admission, an array of his industry peers and public figures took to social media to comment on the shocking news, including Drag Race UK star Cheryl Hole.
“I smiled at Phillip Schofield at the NTA’s in 2020, and he looked at all us Drag Race girlies in disgust, so I call this karma,” she tweeted on 27 May.
Shortly after uploading her tweet, Cheryl’s Drag Race UK sister Blu Hydrangea replied, “Oop.”
Schofield’s former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby also shared her thoughts on the matter in a now-deleted Instagram story.
“It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not,” she wrote. “It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”
Due to the affair scandal, Schofield has been dropped from his talent agency YMU and will no longer be hosting the upcoming British Soap Awards.
I smiled at Phillip Schofield at the NTA’s in 2020 and he looked at all us Drag Race girlies in disgust so I call this karma 😂
— Cheryl Hole (@CherylHoleQueen) May 27, 2023
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