Former This Morning host Phillip Schofield has been spotted in a rare public appearance — leaving a London bar with his arm wrapped around a male companion after what appeared to be a lively afternoon out.
The 63-year-old presenter was seen leaning on the shoulder of his friend — identified as nurse Joshua Luke Sharman — after the pair enjoyed drinks together in central London on Saturday. Witnesses say the two emerged from London’s first LGBTQ+ dedicated cinema, the Arzner Bar & Café in Bermondsey, around 7pm, looking close and sharing a moment before heading off.
Phillip was dressed for the summer in a pale blue shirt, dark trousers and trainers, while Joshua wore a short-sleeved black shirt, beige shorts and dark shoes. They had their arms around each other, with Phillip’s hand resting on Joshua’s waist and Joshua’s arm draped over the TV star’s shoulder.
It marks a rare sighting for the former ITV anchor, who stepped down from This Morning in 2023 after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague from the show. At the time, he issued a public apology for lying about the relationship while still married.
The affair — described by Phillip as a “consensual on-off relationship” — is now over. Months later, he surprised viewers with a TV return via Channel 5’s Cast Away, a three-part series documenting his 10-day isolation on a remote island and including candid scenes at home with his family.
Phillip — who came out as gay in 2020 — remains married to Stephanie Lowe, 60, his wife since 1993. The pair share two daughters, Molly, 32, and Ruby, 29. In Cast Away, Molly reflected on the family’s journey, saying the events had brought them “closer”.
“We’ve seen him at his lowest times, but I’ve been so proud of him,” she said. “As a daughter, to see the love people had for him — when it’s taken away, it’s heartbreaking.”
Phillip also addressed his decades-long career, admitting:
“I miss parts of it. I miss most of it. There are bits I really, really don’t miss. You learn a lot about people. I don’t miss that.”
While Phillip has been enjoying his summer in London, his former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby has been holidaying in Portugal with her family. Once inseparable, the duo have not been seen together since their ITV exits, with Phillip previously accusing Holly of “betraying” him and even branding her “one of the three s***s of showbiz” during Cast Away.
Source: https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/
