Inside Phillip Schofield’s relationship with wife Stephanie… from naked proposal to reason they still wear wedding rings
SHE has loyally stood by her husband even when he came out as gay three years ago.
And despite his admission that he had an affair with a much younger colleague, Phillip Schofield, 61, has insisted he and Stephanie Lowe, 59, “have a wonderful marriage”.
Despite separating when Phil announced he was gay in 2020, he has continued to wear his wedding band – as a symbol of their commitment.
Speaking during an interview with BBC journalist Amol Rajan, Phil waves his ring as he insists: “I had a wonderful marriage, have a wonderful marriage, although it’s not brilliant right now, with an incredibly supportive wife and two wonderful children.”
Somewhat confusingly, he adds: “We are separated but we are very much together.”
But friends say Stephanie, the mother of his two grown-up daughters, had no clue he was in a relationship with the young runner on This Morning because he previously told her the rumours were “untrue” and “BS”, which she believed.
A source told the Mail: “Steph is absolutely devastated, she had no idea of any of this. She is a trusting woman who has supported Phil for many years so this has been a real shock to her.
“Phil always positioned the man as a friend, so that has prompted a fair bit of anger, to put it mildly. It is literally the most heartbreaking thing that could have happened to Steph, it isn’t just the relationship but the deceit.”
Revealing the moment he told his wife about the affair, Phil told the BBC: “Oh my god, can you imagine how difficult that conversation was?”
“Let’s just say it was an incredibly difficult conversation. The most difficult conversation I’ve ever had to have with her, and she is extremely disappointed because I lied to her as well. But she wished me well today, and so we’ll see.”
In an interview with The Sun, Phil said of his wife when he told her the truth: “She was very, very angry.”
This could well spell the end of their close relationship, which started in 1989 when Phil was 25 and working on children’s television, where he met Stephanie, a BBC production assistant.
Speaking to Christine Lampard on Lorraine in 2017, he said of his wife: “She worked in television years ago, that was how we met, so she can do it, she just doesn’t want to these days.”
In 2016, Phil revealed on This Morning that he proposed to Stephanie in the nude one Christmas by putting the engagement ring in an advent calendar – leaving Holly Willoughby in hysterics.
He said: “I proposed to Steph in an advent calendar. You could put your own things in each of the boxes.
“I put bath salts and cheap things just for every day, and then on the given day that I’d chosen, I put the engagement ring in.
I proposed to Steph in an advent calendar… She opened it up and I hopped out of bed, starkers, and got down on one knee!
Phillip Schofield
“She opened it up and I hopped out of bed, starkers, and got down on one knee!”
They had a fairytale wedding at the 15th century castle Ackergill Tower in the Highlands – adored by celebs including Michael Douglas and Jack Nicholson – in March 1993.
Phil wore a blue Armani suit, but only 15 guests attended the wedding, including former Radio 1 DJ Peter Powell.
Phil admitted in 2020 that he knew he was gay before he married.
Speaking about his sexuality, he explained: “I am not saying I didn’t know.
“Whatever was ‘there’ I thought, ‘OK, whatever this is, you stay back because I am happy.’”
The couple welcomed their eldest daughter Molly, now 29, that same year, followed by youngest daughter Ruby, now 27, three years later.
The couple have lived most of their married life in the posh town of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, with Phil often sharing glimpses into their plush multi-million pound family home, which features a large garden and open fire.
They have kept their relationship fairly private, with Stephanie choosing to stay out of the spotlight.
In 2017, the couple were seen on screen together for the first time when he filmed ITV series Schofield’s South African Adventure – released a year after his younger lover joined This Morning.
During the documentary, he was quick to praise his wife, saying: “The perk of this trip is that my wife Steph is joining me.”
He added: “In Cape Town we discovered she is my better half in every aspect… except drumming.”
While on safari, the couple saw rhinos and giraffes in their natural habitat, and Steph became tearful.
Phil put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her, as she said: “I’ve welled up, I can’t believe it.”
A year later the couple celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, with Phil taking to Instagram to pay tribute to his wife.
He wrote: “Two birthdays and a Silver Wedding Anniversary in one week! That’s a lot of cards. Happy 25th Mrs S.”
Their daughter Ruby also posted a rare throwback picture of the couple kissing and cuddling.
Stephanie also featured in Phil’s 2019 show How To Spend Well At Christmas, with some of it appearing to be filmed at their multi-million pound family home in Henley.
But their picture perfect life came crashing down in February 2020, when Phil came out as gay on Instagram before an emotional interview with Holly on This Morning.
He wrote: “You never know what’s going on in someone’s seemingly perfect life? With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.”
Breaking her silence and speaking exclusively to The Sun, Stephanie said: “We’ve had to face the most emotionally painful time in our 27 years of marriage.”
Stephanie declared she was standing by her husband, adding: “I love Phillip, as much today as I ever have, and always will.
“We’ve been awestruck by the strength and love of our precious girls, even as they’ve been trying to make sense of it all for themselves. Our family have also been so supportive and will help us going forward.
“Although this is difficult for us all, I support Phillip in taking this brave step. I will still be there, holding his hand. Everyone should be proud to live their own truth.”
Despite separating, Stephanie still wore her wedding ring as he continued to live at the family home.
She flashed her diamond ring as she gave the This Morning host a haircut in May 2020 in photos Phil shared on social media.
In October 2020, Phil made a rare comment about his relationship with his wife – and touched upon the possibility of divorce.
Asked by Chris Evans on his podcast, How To Wow, if he would continue to wear his wedding ring, Phil replied: “That is a very good question, Chris. I don’t know. Because I am still married to Steph.
“It is not in my nature to hurt people and so I have to reconcile myself with the fact that I have done that.
“Indeed I have done that and I tried very hard not to. I also say, is it possible to come out and not hurt your wife? No, of course it isn’t. My greatest concern is that she is okay.”
And on the subject of divorce, he added: “We have not discussed that at all.”
Although he later moved out of his family home and into a £2million bachelor pad in London, they they continued to be spotted out together.
At last year’s Wimbledon tennis tournament they were pictured wearing their rings as they laughed and joked, while seated next to Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/15809333/ant-mcpartlin-wedding-fun-phillip-schofield/They attended Ant McPartlin’s wedding together last August – where Steph appeared to be sporting her trilogy diamond engagement ring.
The pair remained close and attended Leigh Francis’ – aka Keith Lemon – 50th birthday party together in April. And they looked like they enjoyed themselves as they posed for a snap, alongside their two daughters, which Phil shared to his Instagram.
But his latest deception could well be the final straw for Stephanie who may not wish to be legally bound to the man who lied to her for so long anymore.
