Phillip Schofield claims he was fired from This Morning due to his brother’s crimes, according to The Independent. Schofield, a 62-year-old TV presenter, alleged that he was let go from the show because of the actions of his 54-year-old brother, Timothy, who was convicted in April 2023 for 11 sexual offences against a child. The offences took place between October 2016 and October 2019.
During the final episode of Channel 5’s Phillip Schofield: Cast Away, Schofield revealed that he refused to acknowledge his brother and even cooperated with the police in bringing him to justice. Despite his efforts, Schofield claimed that he was fired by ITV not because of his own controversies but due to the scandal involving his brother.
Schofield recounted the moment he was informed of his termination, stating that he was told it was due to the negative publicity surrounding him. He expressed disbelief at being held accountable for someone else’s actions, stating, “I was fired for the bad publicity, for someone else’s crime.” Schofield also explained that he initially agreed to say he had resigned to make the situation easier for everyone involved.
In addition to the allegations surrounding his brother, Schofield had previously admitted to lying about having a consensual relationship with a younger man who worked on This Morning. Despite denying being forced out by ITV at the time of his departure, Schofield later expressed regret for his actions and apologised to those affected by his behaviour.
The external review conducted by ITV found no evidence to support the rumours of an affair between Schofield and a co-worker. Despite the challenges he faced, Schofield remains uncertain about his future in presenting, mentioning that he may not return to daytime television.
As the Channel 5 programme concluded, emotional scenes showed Schofield reuniting with his daughter, Molly, and their dog. The presenter expressed mixed feelings about his career moving forward, indicating that he has lived through various experiences in television.
Phillip Schofield: Cast Away aired for three nights on Channel 5 and is available to stream on My5. ITV has been approached for comment on Schofield’s claims.