PHILLIP Schofield burst on to UK TV screens in 1985 introducing Children’s BBC shows from the “Broom Cupboard” with puppet pal Gordon the Gopher.
But his glittering, 40-year TV career — which began in New Zealand — appeared at an end following his confession of an affair with a “much younger” ITV worker.
It has taken just 15 days for the former king of daytime TV to fall from grace, amid his toxic feud with This Morning’s Holly Willoughby.
The Sun has led the way with scoops on the row. On May 11 we reported the pair were barely speaking off-screen. A day later Schofield, 61, issued a statement aimed at healing the rift, saying “the last few weeks have not been easy for either of us”.
He added: “Whatever happens we still have each other to count on.”
Yet last night that claim seemed a distant hope — as Schofield faced being cast into the wilderness, and was .
An industry source said: “This appears to be the final curtain for Phil — and his latest move appears like career suicide. There does not seem to be much hope of coming back from this. Which network would want him now?
“It seems an extraordinary move — to admit to a fling with a younger man when he was married.
“And it is the act of a desperate man. It appears the pressure has got to Phil, otherwise why do this?”
Schofield left the Broom Cupboard in 1987 to host hit kids’ show Going Live! on Saturday mornings.
In 1991 he took the leading West End role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
He became a TV staple, hosting National Lottery shows, the Soap Awards and enjoying a 21-year run on This Morning.
His time on the sofa ended with a statement last weekend, following his axing two days earlier.
Stories of a feud with Holly dating back years emerged, plus revelations he had called in a lawyer.
Last night’s dramatic development even saw YMU chief Mary Bekhait skewer Schofield with a statement declaring “honesty and integrity are core values . . . defining everything we do”.
Yet in 2020 Schofield won the hearts of the nation when he bravely came out as gay on live TV, with Holly by his side.
The star went into therapy and “poured out my heart”.
He remained married to Stephanie, who he wed in 1993, and close to their daughters Molly, 30, and Ruby, 27.
But behind the scenes, gossip swirled over Schofield’s relationship with the younger man, who eventually left This Morning and joined Loose Women.
To the public all seemed fine and Schofield still enjoyed holidays away with Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin, 48.
But in August 2020, we revealed that Holly had quit YMU to set up her own firm, Roxy Management.
Industry sources said the move sowed the seeds of the relationship breakdown with Schofield.
Then came Queuegate last September, when the pair were accused of jumping the line for the Queen’s Lying-in-State.
The public who had waited overnight to pay respects to Her Majesty were outraged that the TV stars had been ushered straight into Westminster Hall. The embarrassed duo issued a statement saying they had viewed the coffin in their capacity as broadcasters.
Schofield’s £1million advertising deal with We Buy Any Car was not renewed soon after the row.
But Holly retained seven-figure deals with firms such as M&S.
The final straw in their TV partnership is said to have been Schofield’s failure to tell Holly about his brother Timothy’s sex-abuse trial.
An awkward appearance on This Morning followed, when viewers were left aghast at the tension between the co-hosts. They reviewed newspapers but swerved stories about their falling-out.
And then last Saturday at 3pm, Schofield announced he was leaving This Morning.
His statement — the day after his brother was sentenced to 12 years — saw him declare he had been proud to cover “fascinating stories” but “This Morning itself had become the story”.
Industry sources concluded that “what Holly wants, Holly gets”.
But not even she could have predicted last night’s shock development. Now it appears she, and the public, are set to bid farewell to one of its most enduring stars.
