
Phillip Schofield Scandal: Net Worth, Partner & Comeback
For over two decades, Phillip Schofield was the face of daytime television in the UK, co-hosting This Morning with a warmth that made him a household name. Then, in May 2023, his career imploded after he admitted to an affair with a younger colleague while still married. This article pieces together the full story — the scandal, the fallout with Holly Willoughby, his finances, and his attempt at a comeback on Channel 5’s Cast Away.
Age: 62 (born 1 April 1962) · Estimated net worth: £4 million · Years on This Morning: 20+ (2002–2023) · Instagram followers: 3 million · Latest TV project: Cast Away on Channel 5 (2024) · Relationship status: Single (as of 2024)
Quick snapshot
- Born 1 April 1962 in Oldham, England (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- Came out as gay in February 2020 (BBC News)
- Admitted to an affair with a younger male colleague in May 2023 (BBC News)
- Resigned from ITV and left This Morning in May 2023 (BBC News)
- Divorced Stephanie Lowe in 2020 (Celebrity Net Worth (finance estimation site))
- Exact net worth — estimates range from £2 million to £9 million (Celebrity Net Worth (finance estimation site); Express (UK news outlet))
- Current romantic partner — Schofield says he is single, but rumours persist (Heart (UK radio network))
- Full extent of the fallout with Holly Willoughby — both have given limited accounts (inews (UK news website))
- September 2024: Returned to TV with Channel 5’s Cast Away, isolated for 10 days on an island near Madagascar (BBC News)
- Schofield suggested this might be his last television appearance (BBC News)
- No confirmed TV projects beyond Cast Away (inews)
- His company Fistral Productions continues to hold assets worth over £2 million (Metro (UK news website))
Nine key facts about Phillip Schofield, from birth to net worth — a pattern of rising stardom, sudden collapse, and financial resilience.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Phillip Bryan Schofield |
| Born | 1 April 1962, Oldham, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Television presenter |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | This Morning (2002–2023), Dancing on Ice (2006–2023) |
| Spouse | Stephanie Lowe (m. 1993; div. 2020) |
| Partner | None confirmed (as of 2024) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Net worth | Estimated £4 million |
What happened with Philip Schofield?
The affair with a younger male colleague
In May 2023, Schofield admitted that he had lied about a relationship with a younger male colleague while still married. The colleague was a runner on This Morning, and Schofield had repeatedly denied the affair when questioned by ITV and the press (BBC News).
Coming out as gay in 2020
Schofield came out as gay in an Instagram post in February 2020, saying he was “coming to terms with a truth that has been hard for me to face.” He separated from his wife, Stephanie Lowe, shortly after (BBC News).
Resignation from ITV and This Morning
After the affair came to light, Schofield resigned from ITV and left This Morning. ITV accepted his resignation, stating they recognised “the seriousness of what he has admitted” (BBC News).
Public apology and fallout
Schofield issued a statement saying: “I am deeply sorry for lying to them, and to many others.” The apology did little to stem the damage to his career and reputation (Metro (UK news website)).
Schofield’s deception cost him a 20-year career at ITV, but the financial safety net of his production company meant he wasn’t left destitute.
Why did Phillip Schofield fall out with Holly Willoughby?
The reported rift after the affair revelation
Reports emerged that Holly Willoughby felt betrayed by Schofield’s affair and the lies that surrounded it, especially because they had presented together for over two decades (BBC News).
Holly’s public statements
Willoughby made a brief on-air statement about the scandal but never directly addressed Schofield. A source close to Holly told media: “She felt utterly betrayed and hurt by his deception” (inews (UK news website)).
Allegations of tension behind the scenes
In 2024, Schofield made comments during Cast Away that he missed his old job but not “that”, widely interpreted as a swipe at Willoughby (inews). The fallout remains largely one-sided, with Willoughby maintaining silence.
Schofield’s inability to resist referencing the rift during his comeback risks alienating the very audience he needs to win back.
Is Holly Willoughby still friends with Philip Schofield?
Current relationship status
Holly and Phillip are no longer friends. They have not spoken since his resignation from This Morning in May 2023 (Heart (UK radio network)).
Public interactions since the scandal
They have not appeared together publicly since their last This Morning episode. Willoughby has not mentioned Schofield in interviews.
Holly’s reported fury over Schofield’s new attack
After Schofield’s “not that” comment in Cast Away, reports said Willoughby was angered by the remark, feeling it dragged her back into the story unnecessarily (inews (UK news website)).
The implication: Schofield’s repeated references to the rift are keeping the feud alive, making any future reconciliation unlikely.
Is Phillip Schofield a millionaire?
Estimated net worth
Schofield’s net worth is estimated at around £4 million, though some sources place it as high as £9 million (Celebrity Net Worth (finance estimation site)). His company Fistral Productions had a total value of £2,137,758 and liquid cash of £1,230,300 in late 2023 (Metro (UK news website)).
Sources of income
During his This Morning years, he reportedly earned around £600,000 a year, plus £45,000 per episode for Dancing on Ice (Express (UK news outlet)). In 2024, his personal income dropped sharply — one report suggested he made only £20,000 (Express, though this figure is of low confidence).
Lifestyle and assets
Schofield sold his London home after the scandal and now lives in a smaller property. His company remains active, bringing in an additional £383,266 in the year ending November 2023 (Metro (UK news website)).
While his personal income has plummeted, his limited company retains enough assets that he is far from broke. The millionaire label still fits, but barely.
Does Phillip Schofield have a partner now?
Post-divorce relationship status
Schofield divorced his wife Stephanie Lowe in 2020 after 27 years of marriage. He currently says he is single and not in a relationship (Heart (UK radio network)).
Rumors and reported partners
No confirmed romantic partner has been reported since the affair ended. British tabloids occasionally float speculation, but Schofield’s own statements remain consistent: he is alone.
Current living situation
He lives alone, and his Cast Away appearance was framed partly as a reflection on solitude and his changed life.
What this means: Schofield’s public narrative of isolation is both literal — he has no confirmed partner — and metaphorical, as he navigates a career exile from mainstream television.
Timeline: From Children’s BBC to Cast Away
- 1985 – Starts career as Children’s BBC continuity announcer
- 2002 – Becomes co-presenter of This Morning
- February 2020 – Comes out as gay in an Instagram post
- June 2022 – First public signs of a rift with Holly Willoughby
- May 2023 – Admits to affair; resigns from ITV
- June 2023 – Loses long-term representation; sells London home
- September 2024 – Returns to television with Channel 5’s Cast Away
Confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Phillip Schofield was born on 1 April 1962
- He came out as gay in 2020
- He admitted to an affair while still married
- He left This Morning in May 2023
- He divorced Stephanie Lowe in 2020
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth – estimates range from £2–£5 million (some say £9 million)
- Current romantic partner – he says he is single, but rumours persist
- Full extent of the fallout with Holly Willoughby – both have given limited accounts
Key quotes
“I am deeply sorry for lying to them, and to many others.”
– Phillip Schofield, May 2023 statement (BBC News)
“She felt utterly betrayed and hurt by his deception.”
– Source close to Holly Willoughby (inews (UK news website))
“We accept his resignation and recognise the seriousness of what he has admitted.”
– ITV statement, May 2023 (BBC News)
For Phillip Schofield, the road back to public favour is steep. His Cast Away gamble signals a willingness to return, but trust from both the industry and the audience will not come back overnight. For ITV viewers, the lesson is clear: transparency matters more than star power.
bbc.com, manchestereveningnews.co.uk, dailyrecord.co.uk, youtube.com, walesonline.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org, wordpatch.co.uk
För en detaljerad tidslinje över händelserna, inklusive Phillip Schofields TV-återkomst och hans comeback-projekt, kan du läsa vidare.
Frequently asked questions
When did Phillip Schofield leave This Morning?
He left in May 2023, shortly after admitting to an affair with a younger male colleague.
Who is Phillip Schofield’s ex-husband?
He does not have an ex-husband. He was married to Stephanie Lowe from 1993 to 2020.
What is Cast Away?
It is a Channel 5 reality show in which Schofield was stranded on an island near Madagascar for 10 days, filmed in September 2024 (BBC News).
How old is Phillip Schofield?
He was born on 1 April 1962, making him 62 years old (as of 2024).
Does Phillip Schofield have children?
Yes, he has one daughter.
What did Phillip Schofield say in his apology?
He said: “I am deeply sorry for lying to them, and to many others” (BBC News).
Is Phillip Schofield coming back to TV?
He returned for Cast Away in September 2024, but stated it might be his last television appearance (BBC News).
What happened to Phillip Schofield’s marriage?
He and Stephanie Lowe divorced in 2020 after he came out as gay and admitted to the affair.