Phillip Schofield says fans told him he'd 'saved their lives' after publicly coming out as gay

Phillip Schofield has told of his shock at the amount of people that have told him that his publicly coming out as gay has ‘saved their lives’. 

On 7 February 2020, he revealed his sexuality, firstly taking Instagram to share a statement before appearing on This Morning to discuss his news with his co-host and best friend Holly Willoughby, during which he broke down in tears.

And in a joint interview with The Times with Holly, 40, ahead of Sunday’s BAFTA awards, the presenter, 59, reflected on the impact that his revelation has made on people, remarking that ‘the side-effect of what I did took me by surprise’, while he also hailed his pal’s support as ‘therapy’.

Brave: Phillip Schofield has told of his shock at the amount of people that have told him that his publicly coming out as gay has ‘saved their lives’ 

Looking back on the moment, Phillip admitted that there was ‘an element of selfishness’ when coming out the way he did as he was ‘protecting’ himself in a way, but he failed to realise the positive effective that this would have on those watching.

When asked if the warm response from his coming out is reflective of more tolerant times, Phillip said he ‘hoped so’.

He added: ‘What I will say in addition to what I have said before… the side-effect of what I did took me by surprise. Because when you do something like that, there’s an element of selfishness when you are protecting yourself. 

‘[But] I suddenly realised, and it was highlighted through lockdown, the number of people who said, ‘You just saved my life. What you did has saved me…’

Close: The presenter, 59, reflected on the impact that his revelation has made on people, remarking that ‘the side-effect of what I did took me by surprise’, while he also hailed his pal’s support as ‘therapy’

The TV personality added that the help people had wasn’t necessarily a ‘sexuality thing’, but added that he’d been contacted by those who’ve had drink or gambling problems and had ‘sought help’ thanks to his bravery.  

He went on: ‘Whatever the issue, “I took strength in what you did and I have spoken to someone.” I have spent time talking to people and talking them off the ledge. I am not a therapist, but at least I could be a little more insightful about what I did. It’s a good thing to have come out of it all.’

During the chat, Phillip also told how the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdowns, the first of which occurred just a moment after him publicly announcing his sexuality, made him put everything into perspective. 

Courage: On 7 February 2020, he revealed his sexuality, firstly taking Instagram to share a statement before appearing on This Morning to discuss his news with his co-host and best friend Holly Willoughby, during which he broke down in tears 

Discussing how his revelation was overshadowed by something ‘much more important’, Phillip told how the timing was perhaps a ‘good thing’ as it allowed him to ‘look at the world’ and realise there were ‘bigger things’ happening than what was going on in his head. 

He added that he felt ‘lucky’ to have been able to continue working through the pandemic and have his pal Holly by his side to give him ‘therapy’ throughout it, adding that he never imagined broadcasting through something as monumental as the pandemic. 

Phillip, who shares daughters Molly, 28, and Ruby, 25, with his wife, spoke on This Morning about his battles with keeping his secret and the relief of coming out. 

Shock: What I will say in addition to what I have said before… the side-effect of what I did took me by surprise. Because when you do something like that, there’s an element of selfishness when you are protecting yourself’

Kicking off the subject, supportive Holly said: ‘I think we all just take a breath at that point, reading that I can hear your voice, the pain, how difficult it is for you, this is a big day. I know this is something you’ve been living with for a really long time’.

Phil responded: ‘It’s funny because everyone I’ve spoken to, and you, have all been so supportive and so loving and caring, and my entire family to a person have grabbed us and said it’s ok, we love you we’re proud of you…

‘Every person I tell it gets a little lighter and a little lighter, at the same time I have made this decision which is essential for me and essential for my head and that is principally the reason I have done this.

Positive outcome: ‘[But] I suddenly realised, and it was highlighted through lockdown, the number of people who said, ‘You just saved my life. What you did has saved me…’

‘They have been supporting while we get to this moment because we all know it was coming…’We’ve never had any secrets. It is tough but it’s not something that has happened quickly, I have had to deal with this in my head for quite some time…

‘We’ve gone through this together, we have been honest and have been open and Stephanie as I said, you know’.

Quick to lavish praise on his wife, he said: ‘She’s amazing, she’s incredible, there’s no one in my life who would have supported me. As a wife the way she’s supported me, she’s astonishing, literally astonishing, it’s a good questions, you know this has been bothered me for a very long time…

A friend indeed: He added that he felt ‘lucky’ to have been able to continue working through the pandemic and have his pal Holly by his side to give him ‘therapy’

‘Everyone does these things at their own speed in their own time when the time is right, there’s no question it has in recent times consumed my head…

‘It has become an issue in my head, and so I 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 and thinking oh my God you’re so brave, and I’m thinking I have to be that person.

‘All you can be in your life is honest with yourself and I was getting to the point where I knew I wasn’t honest with myself I didn’t like myself very much, so when is the right time to do it? And you know as a family, you know it is the right time.’

Important: Discussing how his revelation was overshadowed by something ‘much more important’, Phillip told how the timing was perhaps a ‘good thing’ as it allowed him to ‘look at the world’ and realise there were ‘bigger things’ happening