‘Coming out caused me more anguish than joy’, say Phillip Schofield as he opens up on ‘hardest day of his life’

PHILLIP Schofield has revealed that coming out as gay caused him more “anguish than joy”.

The telly veteran, 62, opens up on his bombshell exit from ITV ahead of being sent to a desert island for Channel 5 documentary Cast Away.

Phillip, 62, was joined by his family at his London home, with wife Stephanie Lowe and their daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28.

His family were seen talking for the first time about the moment he came out as gay in February 2020, as well as the scandal surrounding his exit from This Morning last May.

Talking about coming out, Phillip said: “For me, doing it later in life, at the moment, it’s just given me more anguish than joy.

“Because I’m fully aware of the damage that it leaves.

“I still have the love of my family. Never wavered.”

His wife defended her husband and talks about the abuse he has received over the past 18 months — but admitted he could be in for more flak with the new show.

Stephanie said: “What people don’t realise is that they batter you, but there are other people affected.

“There’s no question, by doing this, you’re popping your head back up above the parapet for the very few horrid people that there are out there.”

When my dad came out, it was very hard for me. It was very hard for the entire family, mainly my mum of course

Phillip's Daughter Molly

Meanwhile, daughter Molly told of how “proud” she is of her “amazing” father.

She says: “Weirdly, everything that’s happened recently has made us closer. We’ve seen him in his lowest times. But I’ve been so proud of him. So proud of him.

“As a daughter, to see the love that people have for him. But when it’s taken away, it’s heartbreaking.

“On a desert island, you can’t fake it. This is the real you.

“So you can’t hide anything. And I really hope that people see him how we see him. Because he is just amazing.”

However she fears that his lack of practical skills may be a problem.

She says: “The DIY I’m really nervous about, because he can’t. He can’t do it. He can do a lot of things, but he can’t do DIY.”

Molly also recalls the moment her dad came out live on This Morning, with Holly by his side.

She says: “When my dad came out, it was very hard for me. It was very hard for the entire family, mainly my mum of course.

“Everything was turned upside-down, but we talked through it and over time it’s got easier. My mum and my sister, we’re all the same.

“We’ll always continue to support him, no matter what. I never thought it would have gone the way it has. But to have my parents still best friends is just . . . I’m the luckiest person ever.”

Phillip also discussed how he was forced to leave This Morning after 22 years following a fling with a much younger runner — and hinted at a lack of support from his long-time friend and co-host Holly, 43.

In 2020, Phillip said he “owed it to the viewers” to come out on the programme in a special interview with Holly as they are “family”.

Phillip broke the news on his personal Instagram account with an emotional statement back in February.

He then opened up about his sexuality during an incredibly moving interview on This Morning just moments later.

In the aftermath, Phillip said many people reached out to support him – but the lockdown in March meant he had to deal with it solo.

However, he said the mornings with Holly before presenting the show helped him through.

At the time, Phillip said: “You know, I was happy to receive the hugs, people saying “Oh my God, you’re so brave, oh, are you okay, let’s have dinner” and then nothing – I was stuck inside.

“And thank God I had the mornings with Holly. And so every day we’d sit in the make-up room, just the two of us doing our own make-up and talking throughout the whole of lockdown, which is the most extraordinary, beautiful experience to look back on.

“I think the one thing I’ll take away from all of this is the mornings that we had, with Holly and I looking a bit dazed trying to make a TV programme with hardly any people and wondering what the hell was happening next.”