Phillip Schofield ‘did everything he could’ during investigation into brother
Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Phillip Schofield has said he did “everything he could” when his brother Timothy Schofield was being investigated for child sexual offences.
The former ITV presenter said he had worked “incredibly closely” with police throughout the investigation and still receives text messages from detectives who worked on the case.
Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted in April of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child.
He was jailed in May for 12 years.
I still get texts from the investigating detective because we were so pleased with the result. We did everything we could at the right time
Phillip Schofield admitted to a secret affair with a younger male colleague at ITV, but strongly denies accusations of grooming.
In an interview with The Sun amid the fallout from his affair he said his mother had been “heartbroken” by news of his brother, and recalled the investigation process.
“I was interviewed, I gave a full statement to the police, who we’ve worked with incredibly closely throughout,” he told The Sun.
“I still get texts from the investigating detective because we were so pleased with the result.
“We did everything we could at the right time.”
In a statement released by his lawyer after his brother’s guilty verdict, Schofield said: “My overwhelming concern is and has always been for the wellbeing of the victim and his family. I hope that their privacy will now be respected.
“If any crime had ever been confessed to me by my brother, I would have acted immediately to protect the victim and their family.
“These are despicable crimes and I welcome the guilty verdicts. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.”
The former ITV presenter took a period of pre-planned leave around the trial at Exeter Crown Court, and accompanied his mother to Cornwall for the sentencing.
He told The Sun it was there that he received news that he would have to step down from This Morning.
“Our family thing was always to buy fish and chips and go and sit on the headland,” he said.
“I picked my mum up and she went in to get the fish and chips and while she was getting it my phone rang.
“It was my then manager, saying, ‘Mate, I’m so sorry, it has become too loud for ITV. You will have to step down from This Morning’.
“She said to me before I arrived, ‘You’re not coming down with any bad news are you?’
“She sat in the car and she was all happy to see me. Then she said, ‘Oh your face has changed’. I said, ‘Let’s go on to the headland’. And I had to tell her. She (was) devastated.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.