Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Phillip Schofield
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Phillip Schofield.
Phillip Schofield is a well-known English television presenter. His career began at the BBC as a Children's BBC continuity announcer (1985-1987). He is best known for presenting popular shows like Going Live! (1987–1993), This Morning (2002–2023), Dancing on Ice, All Star Mr & Mrs (2008–2016), and The Cube. Schofield has been a prominent figure on both the BBC and ITV, hosting a diverse array of high-profile programs.
2009: Accusation from Fern Britton
In 2009, Fern Britton allegedly accused Phillip Schofield of meddling in the show, leading to her departure.
November 2012: Savile Scandal Interview
On 8th November 2012, Amid the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal, Phillip Schofield interviewed then prime minister David Cameron on This Morning and presented him with a list he had obtained from the internet of five people named as paedophiles in connection with the North Wales child abuse scandal.
December 2019: Criticism for "giggly" interview with Boris Johnson
In December 2019, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby faced criticism for their "giggly" interview with then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Their selfie with Johnson was also criticised, with viewers citing a "lack of professionalism" and "clear bias". Ofcom received 149 complaints about the interview.
2020: Affair with Younger Co-Worker
In May 2023, Schofield admitted to an extramarital affair with a younger male ITV co-worker, beginning when the co-worker was 20. He admitted to lying about it to ITV's management, his colleagues, his lawyers, his agent, and his family, and resigned from ITV.
2020: ITV Investigation of Rumors
In early 2020, ITV investigated rumors of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and a co-worker, but both men denied the affair at the time.
September 2021: Disclosure of Offences
In September 2021, Timothy Schofield told Phillip Schofield some details of his offences.
2021: ITV Investigation
In 2021, ITV confirmed that an external advisor conducted an investigation related to allegations surrounding This Morning.
September 2022: "Energy Bills" Prize Controversy
In September 2022, "This Morning" introduced a prize of "energy bills" in their "spin to win" game, covering four months of payments up to £400 each. The segment drew criticism and comparisons to "Black Mirror", with Sky News questioning if Russia was using Phillip Schofield for propaganda after the game was reported on Russian state television.
September 2022: Criticism for Queueing at Queen Elizabeth II's Lying-in-State
In September 2022, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby faced criticism for not joining the public queue to view Queen Elizabeth II's lying-in-state. They were escorted from the press gallery, unlike other celebrities and former Prime Minister Theresa May, who queued with the public. This led to online petitions calling for their dismissal.
September 2022: Referencing the energy bill controversy
On September 6, 2022, Phillip Schofield referenced the energy bill controversy by sarcastically commenting, "I wonder how much of that they can complain about online." This remark and the original segment led to 170 complaints to Ofcom and widespread criticism.
October 2022: Dropped by We Buy Any Car
In October 2022, Phillip Schofield was dropped by "We Buy Any Car" amidst criticism for not joining the queue for Queen Elizabeth II's lying-in-state. All adverts featuring Schofield were removed from the company's YouTube channel.
2022: Waitrose Ceases Selling Schofield Wines
In 2022, Waitrose stopped selling Phillip Schofield's branded wines due to negative reviews. Subsequently, "When in Rome" also ceased selling the wines after revelations about Schofield's affair.
April 2023: Brother's Conviction
In April 2023, Phillip Schofield's brother, Timothy Schofield, was found guilty of sexual offences.
May 2023: Resignation from ITV
In May 2023, Phillip Schofield admitted to an extramarital affair and resigned from ITV amidst media coverage.
May 2023: Further fallout with 'We Buy Any Car'
In May 2023, revelations of Phillip Schofield's affair likely contributed to the decision of 'We Buy Any Car' dropping him as the face of their brand.
June 2023: Apology and Interviews Following Resignation
In June 2023, Phillip Schofield gave interviews to BBC's Amol Rajan and The Sun, apologizing for the distress caused to the co-worker involved in the affair. He denied grooming and stated his career was over, expressing feelings of shame and suicidal thoughts.
October 2023: ITV Introduces Relationship Disclosure Policy
In October 2023, ITV introduced a policy requiring all workers to disclose personal relationships with colleagues, covering romantic, familial, and close connections. Non-compliance could result in disciplinary action.
2023: Allegations of a toxic culture
In 2023, following Phillip Schofield's departure and the revelation of his affair, multiple individuals involved with "This Morning" alleged a toxic work environment. Dr. Ranj Singh reported an official complaint of a toxic culture in 2023 and felt he was managed out. Eamonn Holmes stated that Phillip Schofield was "a narcissist and a bully at the centre of the toxicity."
