Phillip Schofield has been slammed by his former management team following his explosive statement where he admitted to having an affair.
The former This Morning star, 61, confirmed on Friday (May 26) that he had the secret fling with a much younger male member of staff at ITV – while still married to his wife.
He also revealed that he lied to his wife, friends and colleagues about the "on-off" affair with the employee, which he describes as "unwise but not illegal."
READ MORE: Phillip Schofield's explosive statement in full as he admits 'lying to wife' over affair
He also explained that he had parted ways with ITV and would not be hosting the British Soap Awards.
And now, in a scathing statement, Phillip’s agency have dropped him from their roster and released a scathing statement.
Mary Bekhait, Group CEO of YMU Group said: "Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.
"This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him.
"As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect."
Phillip himself confirmed he had left the team, writing: "It is with the most profound regret that after 35 years of being faultlessly managed by YMU I have agreed to step down from their representation with immediate effect."
In a statement shared with the media, Phillip, 61, said: "I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
“The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
“Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.
“When I chose to come out I did so entirely for my own wellbeing. Nobody 'forced' me out. Neither I nor anyone else, to my knowledge, has ever issued an injunction, super or otherwise, about my relationship with this colleague, he was never moved on or sacked by or because of me.
“In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven't been truthful about the relationship. But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now.
“I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.
'I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.
He concluded: "To protect his privacy, I am not naming this individual and my deepest wish is that both he and his family can now move on with their lives free from further intrusion, and that this statement will enable them to do so. I ask the media now to respect their privacy.
“They have done nothing wrong, and I ask that their privacy should be respected.”
READ MORE:
- Famous ITV couple tipped to replace Holly and Phil on Dancing on Ice after show axe
- Nadia Sawalha admits she has one co-star 'rule' as she wades into Phillip Schofield exit
- Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield's friendship reportedly soured 'after March 8 show'
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