UK TV presenter, Phillip Schofield has revealed that he is gay, after being married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe for 27 years.
The herald reports that the 57-year-old ITV presenter made the shocking revelation via a statement on his instagram page.
He wrote:
“You never know what’s going on in someone’s seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their wellbeing – and so you won’t know what has been consuming me for the last few years. With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.
“This is something that has caused many heart-breaking conversations at home. I have been married to Steph for nearly 27 years, and we have two beautiful grown-up daughters, Molly and Ruby. My family have held me so close – they have tried to cheer me up, to smother me with kindness and love, despite their own confusion. Yet still I can’t sleep and there have been some very dark moments.
“My inner conflict contrasts with an outside world that has changed so very much for the better. Today, quite rightly, being gay is a reason to celebrate and be proud. Yes, I am feeling pain and confusion, but that comes only from the hurt that I am causing to my family.”
Phillip is a co-presenter on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ show. He appeared on the show to talk about coming out.
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He revealed that the decision to go public was not forced on him but he made it because “all you can be in your life is honest with yourself and I was getting to the point where I wasn’t being honest with myself and I didn’t like myself very much because I wasn’t being honest with myself”.
He said he felt “lighter” as a result while acknowledging that, given his marriage, “it causes pain and upset”.
Asked about why he was going public now, he said: “The thing is you know this has been bothering me for a very long time, everybody does these things at their own speed, when they think the time is right. It has consumed my head, and has become an issue in my head.”
He added that everyone he had spoken to had been supportive and this was reflected by positive reaction from fellow celebrities on social media.
The actor and comedian David Walliams said on Twitter: “I am sending all my love to Phillip Schofield today. I have always held him in the highest regard, and now have nothing but respect and admiration for him.
“Let’s hope we are moving towards a world where no one has to come out any more, they can just be who they are and celebrate that.”
