Phillip Schofield has announced he is gay.
The This Morning presenter – who has been married for nearly 27 years – made the revelation on Friday morning, sharing an emotional post on his Instagram account.
The statement reads: “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.”
“This is something that has caused many heart-breaking conversations at home.
“I have been married to Steph for nearly 27 years, and we have two beautiful grown-up daughters, Molly and Ruby.
“My family have held me so close: they have tried to cheer me up, to smother me with kindness and love, despite their own confusion, Yet still I can’t sleep and there have been some very dark moments.”
The presenter also praises his “incredible” wife, adding: “I love her so very much. She is the kindest soul I’ve ever met.”
Shortly after the announcement, Schofield was interviewed on This Morning by his co-host Holly Willoughby.
Schofield thanked his colleague and good friend for her support, explaining that listening to stories from the show’s guests had motivated his decision to come out as gay.
“I’ve got to the stage where I thought, we sit here every day and I’m over there and some amazingly brave incredible person is sitting here and I’m listening to their story thinking ‘You’re so brave, oh my god’.
“And I’m thinking, I have to be that person.”
Support for Schofield soon poured in on social media.
