Phillip Schofield admits the pain of his father's death 'never goes away'

Phillip Schofield admitted the pain of his father’s death ‘never goes away’ during a heartbreaking This Morning phone-in on Thursday.

The presenter, 58, offered some comfort to a viewer struggling with loneliness in lockdown, insisting it ‘will get better’ as restrictions begin to ease.

Phillip’s dad Brian passed away in 2008 aged 72 after battling heart problems, and admitted his mum Pat ‘surrounds herself with family’ to help cope with the tragic loss.

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Sad: Phillip Schofield, 58, admitted the pain of his father’s death ‘never goes away’ during a heartbreaking This Morning phone-in on Thursday

Phillip and co-host Holly Willoughby spoke to caller Julie, who was battling loneliness after the death of her husband last year.

She emotionally told the pair she’d been living alone as her daughters had moved out, and didn’t expect to feel so alone during the crisis.

Offering support, Phillip said: ‘We lost my dad in 2008, and my mum will be watching this, this will make her cry.

‘She feels exactly the same, it never goes away, she still feels lonely but she surrounds herself with family, when she can, why these are such bizarre times.’ 

Hard: The presenter also revealed his mum Pat still struggles with loneliness, but ‘surrounds herself with family,’ when lockdown permits it

He continued: ‘After lockdown, it will get better. You’re always going to miss him, you’re always going to have that hole in your heart. 

‘All I can say on behalf of my mum is it will get better. Sometimes we’ve got to step outside.’  

Holly agreed with Phillip’s sentiments, insisting that things will improve for Julie, with the show’s resident agony aunt Deirdre Sanders also sharing her support.

Sad: Phillip was offering comfort to a This Morning viewer who admitted she was struggling with loneliness in lockdown after her losing her husband last year

In 2014, Phillip also spoke about his father’s death during a This Morning phone-in, saying: ‘We knew it was going to happen, but when it finally did happen we heard from the hospital. 

‘[They] said it’s incredible how many people, and it is this extraordinary physical thing that a person who is near the end of their life who without even knowing maybe, waits until family have left the room and then they go quietly on their own.

‘And that’s tough you know, that’s tough, he tried to sneak away, but we caught him.’

Speaking following his father’s passing 12 years ago, Phillip also told The Sun: ‘It has been the longest, toughest, saddest week of our lives, made more heartbreaking because we are such a close family.

‘If I can be half the man he was I’ll consider that an achievement.’ 

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV. 

‘It will get better’: The presenter reassured viewer Julie that her mood will improve as lockdown restrictions are eased