Iconic British TV Host Phillip Schofield Comes Out As Gay

It is never, ever, ever too late to come out and live as your true self.

Veteran UK TV presenter Phillip Schofield became a living example of this today. The 57-year-old, who has been married to a woman since 1993, came out as gay in an Instagram post this morning.

“You never know what’s going on in someone’s seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their wellbeing — and so you won’t know what has been consuming me for the last few years,” he wrote. “With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.”

Schofield has been co-hosting This Morning on ITV since 2002, alongside Holly Willoughby. The two also share co-presenting duties for the popular British figure skating competition show Dancing on Ice.

He addressed his coming out on today’s episode of This Morning, noting that every single person he’s interacted with and everyone in his family has shown him tremendous support.

“Every person I tell, it gets a little lighter and a little lighter,” he told Willoughby. “I don’t know what the world will be like now. I don’t know how this will be taken or what people will think, but what I would say is yes I am very, very conscious of the hurt, and so my overriding emotion with my family is going to be guilt…but at the same time, I will sit here and say, actually, I’m proud of myself today.”

Schofield elaborated on those feelings on his Instagram Story, saying that his revelation has “caused many heart-breaking conversations at home.”

“My inner conflict contrasts with an outside world that has changed so very much for the better,” he shared. “Today, quite rightly, being gay is a reason to celebrate and be proud. Yes, I am feeling pain and confusion, but that comes only from the hurt that I am causing my family.”

“Every day on This Morning, I sit in awe of those we meet who have been brave and open in confronting their truth — so now it’s my turn to share mine. This will probably all come as something of a surprise and I understand, but only by facing this, by being honest, can I hope to find peace in my mind and a way forward.”