Jeremy Clarkson defends Phillip Schofield as he blasts 'social media witch-hunt'

04 June 2023 , 09:18

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Jeremy Clarkson defends Phillip Schofield as he blasts 'social media witch-hunt'

Jeremy Clarkson has stepped in to defend Philip Schofield from what he regards as a "witch hunt".

The outspoken broadcaster, 63, reflected on the outcry surrounding Phil's relationship with a much younger man - who he met when he was 15.

He wrote: "Phil is no longer the genial host of some morning-time televisual cappuccino froth. According to the people's court of social media, he's like his brother, a nonce. Actually, he's worse than that: he's a queue-jumping nonce. And we don't want to see his disgusting face ever again.

"I’ve never seen a witch-hunt like it, and what baffles me most of all is that, as things stand, no crime has been committed. I don’t know him at all well and have no skin in the game, but it seems to me he is only guilty of being what he said he was: gay."

Jeremy Clarkson has defended Philip Schofield (Getty Images)

Phillip's brother, Timothy Schofield was sentenced to 12 years for a slew of child sex offences including abusing a teenage boy he groomed.

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Jeremy added that he thinks that the reaction to Phil having an affair with a man decades his junior is hypocritical - especially as over the past few weeks we've heard of octogenarian actors Al Pacino, 83, and Robert DeNiro - who turns 80 in August - becoming dads again.

In his Sunday Times column, he also took aim at ITV for trying to "rid the screen of all middle-aged men" but "seriously doubted" CEO Carolyn McCall had any prior knowledge of the former This Morning star's affair.

Eamonn Holmes claimed there had been a "cover-up" at ITV but The Grand Tour star said: "I seriously doubt that. [Carolyn McCall] has got the share price to worry about, and the launch of the new ITVX service, and she's also engaged in an apparent one-woman quest to rid the screen of all middle-aged men: Morgan, Kyle, etc."

Philip sensationally quit This Morning two weeks ago after presenting the show for 21 years. A week later, he quit ITV after admitting he had lied about having a sexual relationship with a junior member of the production team.

When questioned about rumours of a relationship, Schofield later admitted that he lied to his bosses, agent, presenting partner Holly Willoughby and his family.

Emma Gritt