Philip Schofield seemed carefree and content as he made his first public appearance since his departure from "Dancing on Ice" following the controversy surrounding his affair and exit from "This Morning."
The 61-year-old star had stepped down from hosting the show alongside his close friend Holly Willoughby after his departure from "This Morning" in May of the previous year. The recent return of "Dancing on Ice" featured Holly at the helm, alongside Philip's replacement, Steven Mulhern, but reports suggest that the disgraced TV star has been avoiding watching the show due to lingering discomfort over the public fallout with Holly.
According to sources, Philip Schofield, still dealing with the aftermath of the public fallout, was spotted in good spirits during an outing to a local shop. However, it's reported that he remains bruised by the public fallout with Holly and finds it challenging to watch "This Morning," even finding the theme tune triggering. Despite expressing support during a recent kidnap news incident, there seems to be little contact between Philip and Holly, hinting that they may not have communicated ahead of her return to "Dancing on Ice."
In the past few months, Philip has deliberately chosen to step back from the spotlight after the affair scandal that led to his departure from "This Morning," where he had been a fixture for over two decades. In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster, Philip Schofield admitted to being unprofessional but denied accusations of grooming, stating that the affair did not involve an abuse of power since he and his lover were friends. He apologized extensively to his co-presenter Holly Willoughby, his wife Stephanie Lowe of 30 years, and, significantly, to his former lover, expressing deep regret for the impact on their lives.
Following the scandal, Philip also stepped down from hosting "Dancing on Ice," a role he had held intermittently from 2006 to 2014 and then resumed in 2018 until his departure in the previous year. Speculation surrounded his replacement, and Steven Mulhern was unveiled as the new co-host alongside Holly.
The debut performance of the pair received praise from viewers, with many crediting Steven for injecting fresh energy and fun into the show. As the 2024 series launched, Holly welcomed viewers and encouraged them to give her new co-host a warm reception. Fans took to social media to express their enjoyment of Steven's presence, highlighting the positive vibe he brought to the show.
