PHILLIP Schofield revealed the moving moment he told his mum he is gay – and she said “I don’t care”.
The This Morning presenter smiled as he relived her supportive response, after bravely breaking the news to the nation today.
It came after he and co-host Holly Willoughby both became tearful as they chatted about his announcement.
After praising his friends and family for their love and support he touched on his elderly mum, Pat.
He said: “She’s been on the phone all morning – ‘hope you’re ok’ – you know – ‘thinking of you’ – and I went down to see her, she’s in Cornwall, and I went down to see her and I told her and she said ‘oh, ok – well, I don’t care’.
“And it’s been the same with everyone.”
And Phillip said he had started to feel “lighter” after telling his family and friends – saying talking about these things is what “saves you”.
The beloved TV host posted an emotional statement on his Instagram this morning to break the news.
The This Morning presenter, 57 – who has been married for nearly 27 years – made the revelation as he paid tribute to his wife and daughters, Ruby, 24, and Molly, 27.
The presenter married Stephanie Lowe in March 1993, after meeting while she worked as a BBC production assistant and he was working for BBC children’s television.
The announcement comes just a few weeks shy of the couple’s 27th wedding anniversary on March 30.
You never know what’s going on in someone’s seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their wellbeing – and so you won’t know what has been consuming me for the last few years.
With the strength and support of my wife and daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.
This is something that has caused many heart-breaking conversations at home. I have been married to Steph for nearly 27 years, and we have two beautiful grown-up daughters, Molly and Ruby.
My family have held me so close: they have tried to cheer me up, to smother me with kindness and love, despite their own confusion. Yet still I can’t sleep and there have been some very dark moments.
My inner conflict contrasts with an outside world that has changed so very much for the better. Today, quite rightly, being gay is a reason to celebrate and be proud. Yes I am feeling pain and confusion, but that comes only from the hurt that I am causing my family.
Steph has been incredible – I love her so very much. She is the kindest soul I have ever met. My girls have been astonishing in their love, hugs, encouraging words of comfort.
Both mine and Steph’s entire families have stunned me with their love, instant acceptance and support.
Of course they are worried about Steph, but I know they will scoop us both up.
My friends are the best, especially Holly, who has been so kind and wife – and who has hugged me as I sobbed on her shoulder.
At ITV, I couldn’t hope to work with more wonderful, supportive teams.
Every day on This Morning, I sit in awe of those we meet who have been brave and open in confronting their truth – so not it’s my turn to share mine.
This will probably all come as something as a surprise and I understand but only by facing this, by being honest, can I hope to find peace in my mind and a way forward.
Please be kind, especially to my family.
Phillip
He wrote: “Every day on This Morning, I sit in awe of those we meet who have been brave and open in confronting their truth – so not it’s my turn to share mine.
“This will probably all come as something as a surprise and I understand but only by facing this, by being honest, can I hope to find peace in my mind and a way forward.”
Phillip has co-hosted the daytime show with Holly Willoughby for more than a decade.
And Holly threw her support behind Phillip, writing on Instagram: “Never been more proud of my friend than I am today. We’ll be together at 10am on This Morning x.”
He appeared on the other side of the sofa to Holly today on the ITV show, and told her: “It’s tough but this is not something that’s happened quickly, I’ve had to deal this in my head for quite some time.
“I got to the stage where I thought we sit here, every day, and some amazingly brave person is sitting over there 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 a stage in my life where I was thinking I don’t really like myself because I’m not being honest with myself.
“We always say ‘talk to someone’… and you must talk to someone. It’s brought me back from some dark places and in some cases talking to people saves you.”
Pals rushed to pay tribute to him, with a host of TV stars rallying around the presenter.
Actor and comedian David Walliams said on Twitter: “I am sending all my love to Phillip Schofield today. I have always held him in the highest regard, and now have nothing but respect and admiration for him.
“Let’s hope we are moving towards a world where no-one has to come out anymore, they can just be who they are and celebrate that.”
And presenter and stylist Gok Wan said on Twitter: “So much love to you, such bravery.”
Asked if he was considering a relationship with someone else at this time, Schofield said: “I don’t think so, I’m not thinking there, I’m doing each day at a time now.
“And this has always been a slow process and there’s no fast process after, this was the big day, and this was the day I knew that everything was pointing towards and I could not have done it if it hadn’t been you, so afterwards I don’t know, there’s no one, I’m not rushing to anybody.”
The popular presenter first began his career in the media in 1982 – working in New Zealand radio before returning to the UK to work for the BBC.
He then hosted ITV shows including Schofield’s Quest before snagging the role as This Morning presenter in 2002 with Fern Britton.
Holly Willoughby then replaced Fern, with she and Phillip becoming close friends and even taking family holidays together.
Holly then replaced Fern, with she and Phillip becoming close friends and even taking family holidays together.
