Chris Tarrant has described Phillip Schofield as ‘the most over-exposed man ever’, saying that fame went to his head ahead of his fall from grace in 2023.
Schofield helmed This Morning for more than 20 years before he admitted to having had a relationship with a young colleague on the ITV daytime show.
The 63-year-old described the relationship as ‘unwise but not illegal’, as it occurred during his marriage of 30 years and also before he came out as gay in 2020.
In the explosive statement, Schofield apologised for lying and announced that he would be resigning from ITV with ‘immediate effect’, before being dropped by his talent agent.
The news broke just days after Schofield announced he was stepping down from This Morning, amid speculation of a ‘fallout’ between him and co-host Holly Willoughby, 44.
The former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? presenter Chris Tarrant has now shared his thoughts on the matter, saying Schofield ‘lost the plot’ after finding fame.
‘There was not a hint of apology or “Maybe I was a little bit out of order”, Christ Almighty,’ he said in an interview with The Telegraph.
‘He was the most over-exposed man ever, maybe apart from [Terry] Wogan at his peak – but Terry was on all the time because he was very good and funny and likeable and bright as a button,’ he said.
‘Schofield, they always said, “Oh, but he’s a safe pair of hands”. Did anyone ever say, “Ooh, it’s five to eight, got to get home quick because the safe pair of hands is on”?’
Since his departure, Schofield has largely stayed away from TV aside from a brief return in Castaway.
In the Channel 5 series, he was dropped off at a desert island completely alone. He filmed himself surviving in the conditions and reflecting on his life.
Willoughby suddenly quit This Morning a few months after Schofield when an FBI investigation uncovered a plot to kidnap her. She still presents on Dancing On Ice on ITV and also made her Netflix debut with Celebrity Bear Hunt.
Metro contacted Phillip Schofield’s representative for comment.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1.
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