Phillip Schofield became an “unlikely sex symbol” during the early Nineties, after breaking away from children’s TV and fronting shows aimed at adults.
One of those initial broadcasts came on the BBC travel show ‘Schofield’s Europe’, where he cheekily flashed his “bare bottom” in one episode.
Because the programme aired at 8.05pm, it meant that people of all ages could watch the star at a time when he received up to 2,000 letters a week from fans.
According to Robin McGibbon’s 1992 biography ‘Phillip Schofield: The Whole Amazing Story’: “Now mothers were writing to him as well as their daughters.
The star was inundated with fan mail after stating that he would read the personal notes out on-air during the TV show ‘Going Live!’, which he co-hosted with Sarah Greene.
But some – it would appear – were likely to have made the cut due to the X-rated and saucy content featured in them.
Mr McGibbon wrote: “His appeal to the opposite sex had spread with the weekly screening of ‘Schofield’s Europe’.
“When it came to sexy suggestions, Phillip had to admit the mums had the more creative imaginations.”
This status continued to endure through the decades and according to the star the things people sent in only got worse, a 2006 Mirror Online article reported.
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“But my wife isn’t jealous. She knows she’s the only woman for me.”
They met during the Eighties when she worked as a production assistant at the BBC and soon after she became his house-sitter while he filmed ‘Schofield’s Europe’.
She stayed with him after his return and in no time at all they became an item, got married in 1993 and had two daughters, Molly and Ruby.
Since Phillip came out as gay in February, Stephanie has vowed to stick by his side and support him until he finds love again.
The family have all been pictured during the coronavirus lockdown where they appear to be savouring their time together – and have even role-played for a murder mystery game.
