Phillip Schofield was recently seen in a Brentford pub garden, his first appearance in London in several months. The 61-year-old, formerly of ‘This Morning’, looked relaxed as he shared a conversation with a friend at the Weir Bar. It appeared as a light outing where Schofield indulged in a burger and drink.
Since leaving ITV and revealing a controversial personal relationship earlier this year, Schofield has mostly stayed out of the public eye. Insiders suggest he’s spent a considerable amount of time in Newquay, Cornwall, taking care of his 87-year-old mother, Pat, post her hospitalisation.
Recently, Schofield met with Vanessa Feltz, a former colleague from ‘This Morning’, at the Little Bird restaurant in Chiswick. The two were seen parting with a warm hug, leading to speculations about the nature of their meeting.
However, many believe Schofield’s television career might end after the scandal around his affair. Sources close to him revealed that he’s grappling with the notion of not returning to the screen, stating, “He is pretty sure that he is done. He keeps saying he will never work again.”
There’s also news that Schofield and Holly Willoughby, once inseparable co-hosts, have ceased communication. In a candid interview, Schofield expressed remorse over deceiving her, asserting that Willoughby had no involvement in the matter.
On the other hand, ITV is seemingly preparing a lucrative package for Holly Willoughby, with talks of offering her £1million annually. She’s expected to return on ‘This Morning’ from September 4. This comes amidst reports of ITV staff approaching Parliament with grievances about the work environment at the broadcaster, raising issues of alleged bullying and discrimination.
ITV has initiated an external investigation into the reported toxic workplace culture and Schofield’s associated scandal in response to these allegations.