Phillip Schofield Exclusive: "I m Not A Groomer" Says ITV Star And Apologises to Holly Willoughby

Phillip Schofield has said he is “utterly broken and ashamed” over the affair he had with a younger male colleague, but denies grooming the man. He resigned from ITV last week and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship. In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the 61-year-old presenter says: “I did not, I did not (groom him). “There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way 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.” Schofield also said that his “greatest apology” was to his former lover, who has been brought the “greatest misery into his totally innocent life”. He added: “I am deeply sorry and I apologise to him because I should have known better…. I will die sorry. I am so deeply mortified.” Schofield had reportedly first met the man when he was 15 years old, but said the affair did not begin until he was much older and had begun working at ITV.