Phillip Schofield reveals why affair ended & admits photo with then-teen ‘looks shocking’ – but fling wasn’t illegal

PHILLIP Schofield has revealed why his affair with a much younger This Morning runner ended.

The star, 61, sensationally left This Morning last week after admitting he had an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with the male employee.

Schofield says the pair were not in touch romantically or inappropriately after they first communicated when the boy was just 15.

He claims his colleague was 20 years old when he first had any kind of sexual contact with him – which happened a total of five or six times.

And in an interview with The Sun he revealed why the secret relationship ended.

The star explained: “At the time I did not think about it possibly ruining my career. I really probably only thought about it when I saw the rumour mill, and saw it growing.

“Then I saw the link with the drama school photo all those years before, and thought, ‘This looks shocking’.

“The lies grew bigger and bigger and bigger and it was affecting both of us deeply.

“It got to the stage where it was out of control and for whatever cost, it had to stop.

“I have massive guilt, and regret. I’ve made a mistake, I’ve had an affair at work.”

Schofield has admitted lying to cover up the affair which sparked a tumultuous week, with ITV bosses being accused of hiding the facts.

But he is adamant that the relationship was consensual and legal.

Phillip said: “I did not, I did not (groom him).

“There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way (an abuse of power) because we’d become mates. I don’t know about that.

“But of course I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but bearing in mind, I have never exercised that anywhere else.

“I assume somebody, somewhere, assumed something was going on, correctly, and didn’t say anything.”

Furiously vaping, he added: “I think my greatest apology must go to him.

“It has brought the greatest misery into his totally innocent life, his totally innocent family, his totally innocent friends. It has brought the greatest grief to them.

“I haven’t spoken to him since this s*** show kicked off, but when this was all beginning to get out of control, I paid for his lawyers to independently work on his behalf.

“I am deeply sorry and I apologise to him because I should have known better. I should have acted the way I have always acted. I should not have done it.

“I’m sorry. And I will forever be sorry. I will die sorry. I am so deeply mortified.”

Yesterday, it emerged that ITV boss Carolyn McCall has been called to face MPs amid the ­ongoing This Morning furore.

She has been called to give evidence to a parliamentary committee to answer questions about the broadcaster’s approach to safeguarding and complaint handling following Phillip’s resignation.

The chief executive will face questions from MPs on the This Morning row at the Culture, Media and Sport committee on June 14.