Phillip Schofield branded 'chief narcissist' as Eamonn Holmes gives explosive insight into downfall of disgraced ITV star

Schofield has been quick to defend the show after suggestions of “toxicity” from key figures such as Dr Ranj Singh, but his ex-colleague and current GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes says his comments are “delusional”.

Speaking to Dan Wootton in an exclusive GB News interview, he said: “He's either deluded, or he's lying. And he has admitted he tells lies, and he tells a lot of lies.

“In life, I have always had this belief that a lie unchallenged becomes the truth.

“So although I don't want to stand up to Schofield constantly pointing out where he's lying, I feel I have to. Is he delusional?

“Is he so detached from real life at This Morning that he didn't realise what was going on? I'll often say this to Ruth [Langsford], maybe he believes all this stuff.

“Maybe he did not see what went on, actually, because there's something wrong with him. But he is the chief narcissist.

“He is a complete and utter dyed in the wool narcissist, everything is about him.”

Schofield has apologised for lying about the relationship with the much younger colleague to the Daily Mail and “many others”.

WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE GB NEWS INTERVIEW IN FULL

The veteran TV presenter said the affair began while he was still with his wife Stephanie, admitting in a statement he was “very, very sorry” for having been unfaithful to her.

The revelations came after he faced months of controversy including reports of a rift with co-host Holly Willoughby, his brother’s sex abuse trial and controversy sparked over his list to the late Queen’s lying-in-state.

Willoughby said in a statement that she had been one of the people Schofield had lied to about the affair, admitting the revelation made by her long time co-host is a "hurtful" one.

Schofield has defended the show amid claims of “toxicity” as he deals with the furore over his affair with a younger colleague.

Schofield has denied claims of "toxicity" on the ITV programme, saying: “Now I no longer work on @thismorning I am free to say this.

“I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.

READ MORE:
Phillip Schofield scandal 'to cost ITV tens of millions' as sponsors abandon This Morning
Phillip Schofield’s lover was just ‘15 when they met’
ITV bosses have 7 days to save This Morning as furore over Phillip Schofield saga grows

“This Morning is the best show to work on, with the best people.

“In all the years I worked there there was no toxicity You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you like.

“But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know, it is a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard working people.”

The 61-year-old announced he was stepping down from presenting the ITV talk show with “immediate effect” last weekend, while co-presenter Holly Willoughby will remain on the programme.

He was due to host the British Soap Awards and also co-hosted Dancing On Ice, but he will no longer do either.

A statement from ITV said that the broadcaster feels “badly let down”.

“We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield,” the spokesperson said.

“The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust.

“Phillip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down.”

Eamonn Holmes also hit out at the suggestion Phillip Schofield opted to “step back from the show”, believing he was pushed.

He told Dan Wootton: “It makes me laugh when people report that Phillip Schofield has decided to step back.

Like heck he has. Then Holly Willoughby responds with ‘the couch will seem so empty without him’.

“Well, she should be dancing on the couch, because that's what she was looking for forever.

“Do these people take the public for fools? Answer? Yes, they do.”

An ITV Spokesperson told GB News: "Further to our statement on Saturday, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.

"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.

"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.

"Phillip’s statement on Friday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."