Phil Schofield's 'miserable' life in exile - 'cash panic, book and Holly burn'
He was once one of the most beloved faces on British television, and a favourite for many This Morning viewers. But Phillip Schofield's fortunes changed in an instant when he confessed to an affair with a younger man working at ITV, and overnight he became a showbiz pariah.
The 61-year-old initially beat a hasty retreat to Cornwall, where he was comforted by his mum. And with his TV career all but dead, the former star is said to be at a crossroads in life. According to reports, he is hoping to "draw a line" under the scandal that has overshadowed his work with a candid tell-all memoir, while friends have apparently been urging him to seek a "fulfilling life" away from the spotlight.
As his former colleagues put on their glad rags for the NTAs - an awards that usually sees him, co-host Holly Willoughby and the show itself celebrated, the star was busy unfollowing Holly on Instagram, sending a clear signal that theirs is a bond he has no interest in rekindling. As the feud reignites, The Mirror takes a look at Phil's new life in exile...
The former This Morning host fears he'll never work in TV again (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Selling up
Now that he's no longer needed in London to film This Morning, Schofield has reportedly reduced the cost of his luxury £1.2 million penthouse by £85,000 in a bid to be free of it. He and estranged wife Stephanie, 59, previously slashed the price by £100,000, listing the pad in the capital for the same amount they bought it for back in 2012.
It was at the two-bedroom property that ex-colleague and enemy Eammon Holmes claimed Schofield and his younger lover held "secret meetings" and that cars were often sent to collect the young man from the address. Schofield is also understood to own his own £2million bachelor pad in west London, while there were possible plans to convert a garage into living space at his former £2.6million marital home in Henley, Buckinghamshire.
Phillip Schofield mocks Molly-Mae's baby name in cruel swipe at Love Island star
Drastic action over finances
Schofield has hired a team of wealth management accountants to handle his financial affairs, as he seeks to find ways to make an income beyond TV presenting. It's understood that Schofield is now on the books of Sedulo, a company that specialises in helping well-heeled clients grow their wealth.
It's likely that Schofield, who runs his own property business, won't resume his glittering media career, and so he is hoping the team will help keep his fortune intact. Documents filed to Companies House reveal Schofield's real estate firm, Fistral Properties Ltd, has been registered with Sedulo's London offices, and it's likely this will be his primary source of income going forward. For 30 years, the majority of Schofield's business plans had been run by talent agency YMU who also managed his highly lucrative TV career worth millions, but he was dropped after news of the affair broke.
New book talks
As previously reported by the Mirror, Schofield has been approached by a leading book publisher for an informal chat about a potential deal, with the dad-of-two apparently keen to tell his side of the story. The source revealed: "Phil has had several approaches by book publishers - including Hodder & Stoughton - about a new memoir, in which he talks more fully about This Morning, Holly, and how his career at ITV imploded. His account of this would be incredibly compelling, and no doubt lucrative, though at this stage money has not yet been discussed. Phil liked the approach from Hodder and has spoken to them briefly."
They added: "He made it clear in the conversation that he would like the chance to tell his story in full, and in some ways to draw a line under what has happened, but that he would not do so without the approval of his family. Stephanie and the girls have been his lifeline all this time, while he's been going through hell in private. So any further discussions are on hold until he has spoken to them, and they are happy with him going ahead."
Schofield recently caught up with loyal pal Vanessa Feltz (SplashNews.com)Finding a new purpose
Sources close to Schofield have reportedly been trying to encourage him to find a "fulfilling life" away from showbusiness, with the former host said to be feeling miserable about his current career prospects. A source told the Mail Online: "Phillip has been very, very down recently. He doesn't know how he is going to work again. He is pretty sure that he is done. He keeps saying he will never work again. It's devastating for him to realise but he also knows that there is not a lot he can do about it. He doesn't know who will take him, he knows there is no way back to ITV or the BBC."
Finding who his friends are
In early August, Schofield was spotted enjoying an evening out with pal Vanessa Feltz at West London restaurant, Little Bird. This was the first time Schofield has been seen out and about in London since stepping down from his ITV role back in May. The pair could be seen hugging affectionately, with Schofield shooting his friend a smile.
TalkTV host Feltz, 61, has publicly stood by Schofield throughout the scandal of recent months, making the following statement back in June: "I'm absolutely devastated on behalf of everyone. I've always been good friends with Holly and Phil, I've been on that show for years and years. I just feel very sorry for anybody who's been hurt or implicated in what's happened. I hope the show will continue."
Addressing the alleged "toxic atmosphere" of This Morning, she added: "I've never seen anything toxic in my life – and that's the truth! "I've never seen, heard anything! Anything other than just nice people being nice. I'm not just saying that. I would tell the truth. Even last week, or the week before, I didn't see anything. It's come as a big shock to me and I think to lots of contributors. People who say, 'Everyone knew' – it's not true. It's absolute rubbish!"
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