Phillip Schofield clarifies comments on 'wishing Trump dead'

Presenter says he was joking about president still being in office

Phillip Schofield has clarified he did not wish Donald Trump was dead on television.

The presenter made a joke on This Morning about the US president saying he is taking hydroxychloroquine to protect himself against coronavirus, which health authorities have warned against due to the health risk.

"Well he is still with us, sadly," Schofield said.

He later shared an article on Twitter claiming viewers had interpreted the joke as moaning about Mr Trump still being alive.

The presenter said he was taking about the president being "still in office".

Mr Trump has said he has been taking the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine "daily" to help stave off Covid-19.

"You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers before you catch it," the US president said during a recent meeting with restaurant industry executives.

"I happen to be taking it," he added.

Health authorities have warned people against taking the drug, citing its potential life-threatening side effects, including an irregular heartbeat.

Following Mr Trump's revelation, the UK government stressed taking hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus was "not something we recommend doing".

Mr Trump initially promoted hydroxychloroquine in April as a potential Covid-19 treatment based on a positive report about its use against the virus.

However, subsequent studies have found it to be ineffective, and the Food and Drug Administration has warned of the potential for serious side effects associated with hydroxychloroquine and an older, related drug, chloroquine.

Additional reporting by agencies