Phillip Schofield's Emotional First Words After Coming Out As Gay

Phillip Schofield has spoken out on This Morning for the first time since revealing via Instagram Stories that he is gay.

Schofield's co-presenter Holly Willoughby praised her friend on her own Instagram page, revealing that they would be appearing on the ITV show today.

After being introduced by Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, Holly sat alongside Schofield and said: "I've never been more proud of my friend than I am today."

Instagram

Fifty-seven-year-old Phillip went on to say that he's not thinking about any future relationships and explained that his daughters have been 'fantastic'.

He told Holly: "Everyone I've spoken to have all been so supportive and loving and caring. My entire family have grabbed us and said, 'It's OK, it's OK, we love you, we are proud of you.'

"Every person I tell, it gets a little lighter and a little lighter. At the same time I've made this decision which is essentially for me and my head.

"Of course I'm really very aware that Steph [Lowe, his wife] and the girls are watching this and we are all together. They have been supporting us as we get to this moment."

He continued: "It's tough, this is not something that's happened quickly. We have gone through this together and been honest and open."

Speaking of his wife of 27 years, Stephanie, he went on: "I can't write in any statement what I feel about that woman. She's amazing, she is incredible, there's no one in my life that would have supported me in the way that she supported me. She is astonishing."

Talking to Holly, he said: "The thing is, you know this has been bothering me for a very long time and I think everybody does these things at their own speed and their own time.

"There's no question that it has, in recent times, consumed my head and has become an issue in my head. I got to the stage where I thought you [Holly] sit here every day and I'm over there, and some amazingly brave, incredible person is sitting there and I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, you are so brave.' And I'm thinking, 'I have to be that person.'

"All you can be in your life is honest with yourself. I was getting to the point where I didn't like myself as I was not being honest."

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

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