Phillip Schofield made a substantial payment to a colleague with whom he had an affair, in a deal that included a confidentiality agreement, it has emerged.
The former This Morning presenter left ITV last year after admitting lying about the relationship.
The star’s lawyers have confirmed that he later helped pay his ex-lover’s legal fees, as well as compensation for the loss of his job and her home.
The agreement came with a confidentiality agreement for both parties.
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Details of the payment were first reported by the Mail on Sunday, which claimed Schofield had handed over a six-figure sum.
This figure has not been confirmed by the BBC.
Schofield left his role on This Morning last May following reports of a split with co-star Holly Willoughby.
Days later, the show was embroiled in scandal when Schofield confirmed that he had had a “consensual on-again, off-again relationship with a younger colleague”, which took place while Schofield was still married to his wife Stephanie Lowe.
The presenter met the young man when he was 15 years old. Four years later, Schofield helped him get work experience on This Morning.
Their relationship is believed to have begun a year later, when the man was 20, by which time he had been given a job as a runner.
After the story emerged, Schofield apologized for lying to his colleagues, the media, his friends and family about the matter, and left ITV with immediate effect.
In an interview with BBC News, he characterized the relationship as a “serious mistake” and said his “career is over.”
The star also addressed the question of the power dynamics of the relationship and whether he had abused his position.
“I understand it and it’s a very valid question for me,” Schofield told Amol Rajan.
“If it’s an abuse of power, it’s not in my nature to be that person, but of course it could be perceived that way. But that’s not how I felt at the time.”
ITV carried out a review of its handling of the matter last year.
In a report, he said he had made “considerable efforts” to uncover the truth in 2020, but that both sides had “repeatedly denied” their relationship.
Schofield “reluctantly refused” to take part in the review due to “the risks to his health”.
Both he and his ex-partner are said to be in a fragile state following the public revelation of his affair.
Last week, This Morning announced that its new presenting team would consist of Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
Willoughby left the show “for myself and my family,” five months after Schofield’s revelation.
