By Lucy Caulkett-
Disgraced television presenter, Phillip Schofield has accused the media of homophobia for reacting to the age gap between him and his former lover, admitting that he will die sorry for the pain he has caused that young man and his family.
Expressing regret over the entire affair, he siad: ‘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.’
He added: ‘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.’
In an interview with BBC’s Amol Rajan, the axed ITV presenter said the reaction to his infidelity to a younger man whom he met at 15 would not have been the same had it been a heterosexual relationship. ‘I had a wonderful marriage, have a wonderful marriage [waves his wedding ring], although it’s not brilliant right now, with a incredibly supportive wife and two wonderful children.
Admitting to have had the most difficult conversation with his wife Stephanie, after tying to her over the relationship with the young man, Schofield said his wife with whom he is now separated and his daughters had been supportive.
But his greatest apology was reserved for the young lover whom the emdia have chosen to remain anonymous to protect
Phillip told Amol his ‘greatest apology’ over the fallout from the affair was to his former lover.
He said: ‘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.’
He added: ‘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.’
In his attack against an alleged homophobia by the media, Schofield said: ‘Attraction is attraction. It’s no different in the gay world as it is in the heterosexual world or in the lesbian world.’
The presenter went on to tell The Sun: ‘There shouldn’t be a difference, this is where homophobia comes in. We did first meet when he was 15…
‘I visited the drama school (he attended), so yeah, there’s a difference, it’s accepted by Leonardo DiCaprio, but it’s not accepted if it’s in the gay world.’
Schofield’s affair with the young runner has dominated the news ever since his pubic confession, leading to ITV’s boss being called to answer about what safeguarding measures were put in place at the time.
ITV put out a statement earlier in the week stating that it had investigated the affair by speaking to both parties about the rumours of their affair, but both had denied it.
The young man who has now gone into hospitality denied being questioned by the broadcaster.
Programme makers have been under attack by the likes of Eamonn Holmes who has accused ITV bosses of being aware of the relationship and lying as part of a cover up to protect their careers.