Disgraced former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield cut a somber figure as he walked his puppy in west London on Monday as the new presenters made their debut.
Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard launched the new era of the ITV daytime show after the pair were revealed as the new additions last month following weeks of speculation.
The future of the ITV show was thrown into chaos after its star host was forced to step down in May and Holly Willoughby made her shock exit in October.
As the show entered a new chapter, Phillip kept a straight face as he enjoyed a walk with his new dog.
The former presenter wrapped up in a dark padded jacket with a cream fluffy collar, while keeping things casual in a pair of denim jeans.
Disgraced former This Morning host Phillip Schofield cut a sombre figure as he walked his puppy in west London on Monday as the new presenters made their debut
The future of the ITV daytime show was thrown into chaos after Phillip was forced to step down in May and Holly Willoughby made her shock exit back in October
Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard thought they were “so excited” when they finally made their debut as This Morning’s permanent new hosts on Monday
It comes five months after the broadcast bowed out of the limelight after an affair with a much younger man who worked alongside him on This Morning, leading to his departure after over 20 years on the show.
After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally went public and he admitted he had been left “devastated and ashamed” but insisted he was not a groomer.
He said the affair ‘never arose’ as an abuse of power because he and his lover were ‘mates’. He told The Sun: ‘I was unprofessional once in a 41-year career. There is no excuse. Nobody did anything wrong but me.’
In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the presenter said: ‘I didn’t, I didn’t (cut him).
“There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way because we had become lovers. I don’t know about that. But of course I understand that there will be a massive sentence, but with that in mind I have never exercised it.’
It has since surfaced he paid her much younger lover to keep quiet about their relationship.
Schofield paid his former colleague, who is 34 years his junior, a six-figure sum to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) preventing him from talking about their affair.
The TV presenter has been in the wilderness since admitting the affair and lying to his ITV employers in an extraordinary mea culpa to the Mail last May.
The former presenter wrapped up in a dark padded jacket with cream fluffy collar as he kept things casual in a pair of denim jeans
It comes five months after Phillip bowed out of the limelight following an affair with a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning
Philip and Holly will present This Morning back in May 2023
A lawyer acting for the former This Morning host has now confirmed that an agreement was signed with his ex-girlfriend last year, including a “mutual non-disclosure clause” and payment to compensate the man for losses he suffered.
The man was just 15 when he met Schofield, who helped him land a coveted job as a presenter on This Morning at the age of 19.
A romantic relationship between the pair began when the man was 20, after which he moved to another ITV daytime show, Loose Women. He later left the channel with a separate payout.
Despite the clause banning either side from speaking about the affair, Schofield revealed intimate details of their relationship when interviewed by the BBC’s Amol Rajan last June.
A source familiar with the NDA told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The young man has been fragile for some time. It’s no secret.
“There was a payment for various matters that followed Phillip’s decision to speak out about his matters and as part of that an NDA was arranged and signed.
‘It means Phil knows his young ex will never, ever be able to talk about their relationship, so he can probably sleep a lot better at night now.
‘He (Schofield) has lost a lot but think if all the details came out – it would be quite catastrophic for him.
‘As for the young man, let’s hope he can get on with his life now and rebuild it – but it’s not easy.
‘And it’s a bit rich to present an NDA after Phil had his say with the BBC last year.’
The man – referred to only as Person X by ITV during its investigation – was represented by top London law firm Mishcon de Reya in the NDA negotiations.
New hosts Cat and Ben gushed they were ‘so excited’ when they finally made their debut on Monday.
Cat said during the show’s opening hours: “We are so excited to be here, this show has been a part of our lives for so long.”
Ben, who left Good Morning Britain last month after 10 years, added: ‘Everyone has been so kind. thanks to everyone who sent us messages of support.’
After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally went public and he admitted he had been left “devastated and ashamed” but insisted he was not a groomer
Philip leaned down to pet the adorable dog
He kept a serious expression as he was seen out and about
In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the presenter said: ‘I didn’t, I didn’t (groom him)’
He continued: ‘There are allegations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way because we had become lovers. I don’t know about that’.
Cat and Ben also received messages of support from some of their celebrity friends, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sharing a sweet tribute to their former SMTV co-host.
Ant said, ‘Cat, Ben, good luck!’ while Dec continued: ‘Have the best! You’re going to be amazing, we can’t wait to see.’
Noting their wild partying during their children’s TV heyday, Ant said: ‘A bit of advice for Ben about Cat because we worked with Cat and she might be sweet and easy but that girl can party! Don’t think she can’t’.
Declan added: “Keep a lock on the drinks cabinet.”
Back in the studio, Cat admitted with a smile: ‘Look, my motto in life is work hard, play hard.’
Cat went on to reveal: ‘Well actually Ben, I’ve actually got a little word of warning about you too – from one of your besties, take a look!’ Before the clip was played, Ben joked: ‘It’s even more worrying if it’s from one of my friends!’
Viewers then heard Chris Kamara, affectionately known to many as Kammy, say: ‘Let me tell you Cat, he’s like a bear with a headache when West Ham get beaten and the rest of the time he’s just miserable!
‘Just kidding, let me tell you Cat – he was one of the best things that happened to me and I’m sure you’ll see that and of course vice versa. Good luck to you both, I think you’re going to smash it.’
Ben commented: ‘Aww Kammy! He never fails to move me, that man. We woke up a lot together on Sundays on Sky… It’s something you have to learn! But thank you Kammy for that message.’
Cat said during the show’s opening hours on Monday: ‘We are so excited to be here, this show has been a part of our lives for so long.’