02 June 2023 , 10:43
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Phillip Schofield has confirmed he is still married to wife Stephanie Lowe - despite coming out as gay three years ago.
The couple married in March 1993 after meeting while they were both working in TV at the BBC.
At the time Stephanie was a production assistant and it was the start of Phillip's career as a children’s TV presenter.
“You'd have thought someone wouldn't be attracted to a man with a puppet and dodgy jumpers!” he joked at the time.
Fast forward 30 years and the pair admit they remain married and share two daughters, Molly, 30, and Ruby, 27.
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But following the revelation Phillip had an affair with a younger male ITV staff member when he worked on This Morning, he confessed “things are not brilliant right now”.
Here we look back at their relationship in full, from a naughty proposal and fairytale wedding to Phillip coming out as gay and Stephanie’s fury at finding out about his affair.
Naughty proposal
Phil proposed to Stephanie in the nude in the early 90s (MDM)Phillip was 30 when he popped the question to Stephanie, who is two years younger, back in 1992 – and he did it in a very cheeky way.
The veteran TV presenter revealed he put the engagement ring in an advent calendar and when Stephanie opened it he got down on one knee in the nude.
He shared: “On the given day I’d chosen I put the engagement ring in and when she opened it I hopped out of bed starkers and got down on one knee."
Fairytale wedding
Phillip and Stephanie pictured together in the 90s (Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)
With their first daughter Molly, who was born in in 1993 (Mirror.co.uk)Phillip and Stephanie went on to tie the knot a few weeks later on March 29, 1993, in a fairytale ceremony at Ackergill Tower hotel in Scotland.
The groom wore a navy suit while bride Stephanie was elegant in a long-sleeved flowy white dress.
But Phillip has since admitted he had doubts about his sexuality on his wedding day and thought he might be bisexual.
He added he was ‘naive’ to think he could suppress his feelings while he was married but kept quiet because he and Stephanie were ‘happy’ and living a ‘perfect life’.
Two beautiful children
Phillip and Stephanie with their two daughters Molly (left) and Ruby (right) (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)Phillip and Stephanie went on to have two daughters together.
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Molly Mae, who works as a talent manager at her dad’s former talent agency YMU, was born in 1993, not long after the couple got married, and is now 30 years old.
Younger sister Ruby arrived in 1996 and is now 27. She studied psychology at Leeds Beckett University gained a 2:1.
It is unknown what her profession is now. She previously spent a month interning at ITV, but is not thought to have followed the rest of her family into the entertainment industry.
Coming out as gay
Phillip came out as gay in an interview on This Morning in February 2020 (S Meddle/ITV/REX)With Phillip and Stephanie seeming to have the perfect marriage, it was a shock when he came out as gay on This Morning in 2020.
The presenter was comforted by best pal and former co-host Holly Willoughby as he broke down on the sofa.
He told the nation: "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."
Phillip said of his wife: "Steph has been incredible - I love her so very much. She is the kindest soul I have ever met. My girls have been astonishing in their love, hugs and encouraging words of comfort.
"Both mine and Steph's entire families have stunned me with their love, instant acceptance and support. Of course they are worried about Steph, but I know they will scoop us both up. My friends are the best, especially Holly, who has been so kind and wise - and who has hugged me as I sobbed on her shoulder.
"This will probably all come as something of a surprise and I understand, but only by facing this, by being honest, can I hope to find peace in my mind and a way forward. Please be kind, especially to my family. Phillip."
Still married and wearing wedding ring
Steph stuck by Phil and the pair have remained close (REX)Despite coming out as gay, Phillip continued to wear his wedding ring and has admitted he and Stephanie are still legally married.
Although it has been hinted their romantic relationship is over, Phillip said he had 'no plans' to ask for a divorce.
He is believed to split his time before the family home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, he shares with Stephanie and a £2 million bachelor pad in Chiswick, west London.
But it turns out Phil didn't want to completely leave the family unit, as he applied to complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, a sitting room and a posh new kitchen.
Speaking to Chris Evans on his podcast, How to Wow, Phil said: "I'm still married to Steph. With divorce... We've not discussed that at all. We're picking our way through. It's a work in progress."
Affair with much younger ITV colleague
Phillip recently confessed to having an affair with a much younger ITV colleague (BBC)Although it is thought Phillip and Stephanie have been living separate romantic lives for the past three years, it was still a shock when he revealed his affair with a much younger male ITV colleague.
Following weeks of rumours of a ‘feud’ between him and This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby, Phillip dropped the bombshell days after quitting the ITV show.
Phillip covered up the workplace fling for years - but insists the relationship was ‘unwise, but not illegal'.
His statement said: “I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.”
The statement continued: "I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.”
Phillip’s admission led to him being dropped by ITV and his agent.
Wife's fury over secret affair
Wife Stephanie is said to have been 'furious' about the secret affair (Phil Harris/Daily Mirror)Phillip’s wife Stephanie has reportedly been left feeling betrayed after discovering his affair with a younger colleague that took place during their marriage.
Her friends of have claimed she had "no idea" her husband was in a secret relationship with another man before he came out as gay in 2020.
A source told the Daily Mail: "Steph is absolutely devastated, she had no idea of any of this. She is a trusting woman who has supported Phil for many, many years so this has been a real shock to her.
"Phil always positioned the man as a friend so that has prompted a fair bit of anger, to put it mildly. It is literally the most heartbreaking thing that could have happened to Steph, it isn't just the relationship but the deceit.”
‘Wonderful marriage not brilliant right now’
Phillip and Stephanie still wear their wedding rings and remain legally married (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Phillip said they are 'separated but still very much together' as a family (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)In an interview with the BBC in June 2023, Phillip revealed he is still wearing his wedding ring, but admitted his relationship with wife Stephanie is ‘not brilliant right now’.
He said: "I had a wonderful marriage.. have! a wonderful marriage", correcting himself - before proudly flashing up his gold wedding band still on his left hand.
"Not brilliant right now," he added, before praising Steph as being an 'incredibly supportive wife.'
Clarifying his relationship with Steph, Phil said: "We are separated but we are very much together.
"Let's just say it was an incredibly difficult conversation. The most difficult conversation I've ever had to have with her and she is extremely disappointed because I lied to her as well. But she wished me well today."