PHILLIP Schofield has confirmed how old his young lover was when they first met, and exactly where it happened.
The axed This Morning host, 61, who has been in hiding since the scandal broke, approached The Sun to tell his story.
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In the interview, Schofield revealed he worked with the colleague for a short period and had become friends.
And he also admitted as to when he first met his young lover.
He said: “We did first meet when he was 15, I visited the drama school (he attended).”
Schofield is at lengths to point out the chronology of events, and make clear the pair were not in touch romantically or inappropriately after they first communicated when the boy was just 15.
He added that it was “a completely innocent backwards and forwards over a period of time about a job, about careers.”
Schofield says that his colleague was 20 years old when he first had any kind of sexual contact with him – which happened a total of five or six times.
According to Schofield, the first romantic encounter between him and the man took place in his ITV dressing room and was “consensual”.
And although the former TV star said he was ashamed, he insisted he did not groom the runner.
Schofield said: “I did not, I did not (groom him).
“There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way (an abuse of power) because we’d become mates. I don’t know about that.
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“But of course I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but bearing in mind, I have never exercised that anywhere else.
“I assume somebody, somewhere, assumed something was going on, correctly, and didn’t say anything.”
The star is at pains to publicly apologise to his former lover and wanted to counter gossip about their affair.
He continued: “At the time I did not think about it possibly ruining my career. I really probably only thought about it when I saw the rumour mill, and saw it growing.
“Then I saw the link with the drama school photo all those years before, and thought, ‘This looks shocking’.
“But I didn’t lie to protect my career, he didn’t want his name in public. He wanted his own life.
“I have massive guilt, and regret. I’ve made a mistake, I’ve had an affair at work.”
Furiously vaping, he added: “I think my greatest apology must go to him.
“It has brought the greatest misery into his totally innocent life, his totally innocent family, his totally innocent friends. It has brought the greatest grief to them.”
“I’m sorry. And I will forever be sorry. I will die sorry. I am so deeply mortified.”
Schofield has admitted lying to cover up the affair which sparked a tumultuous week, with ITV bosses being accused of hiding the facts.
With his career in tatters, he has decided to put the record straight by speaking to The Sun and the BBC’s Amol Rajan.
Addressing lurid allegations and rumours posted online, Schofield insisted his former boyfriend did not receive a penny in “hush” money.
He said no non-disclosure agreement was ever signed that would have prevented the man from speaking out.
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