Philip Schofield interview on BBC News/iplayer now.

[JeandeServiette]

Anyone else watching?

I wasn't supposed to be up this early but what the heck.

Where have I said what she can or cannot post? 🙄

In the jnterview is coming across as very manipulative and he is just acting out a role his PR people have planned out and scripted carefully. Makes no sense that he is now terribly sorry but it was going on for years ? If he was really as distraught as he is making out would he agree to interview with BBC to be broadcast everywhere and have everyone dissect ? I agree OP.

Absolute rubbish!

There was little prejudice against gay men in society when PS rose to fame - and even less in the media industry where there has always been more acceptance of homosexuality.

And people would be equally condemnatory had he seduced a young girl, and he knows it. It's a vile abuse of power and trust.

But this is a breaking news story? PS was on the TV literally minutes ago (maybe still is?) speaking about this story? Are we all supposed to just meekly listen and not comment? I'd understand your comment more if this thread was created a year down the line and PS had been blessedly silent during that time.

I have not watched the interview but could I ask a question of people who have?

does he really say “what is the problem with talking to people, regardless of their age?”

if so, I find that shocking. Of course you can talk to children, but there are serious safeguarding aspects when dealing with someone below 18.

that in combination with him just telling his brother “don’t do it again “ doesn’t sit right with me.

I am concerned about the child protection aspect and the power imbalance. Apart from that, I couldn’t care less about what consenting adult (regardless of sex) do with each other.

Whatever PS has or hasn't done, he doesn't deserve the weight and sheer relentlessness of what he's gone through. I'd assume you'd want your abuser to go to court and be convicted. If PS has broken the law that's what should happen to him. Not a trial by media, consisting of lies and half-truths But I've seen murderers treated with less venom tha PS.

I agree. What outcome do people want? No laws have been broken that we are aware of and no allegations have been made. That doesn't make it right and PS has lost his job because of it. ITV will face serious questions about their role in this as an employer and rightly so.

What a disgusting post @Wanderingowl a MN thread is not the place for those kinds of statements.

The fact that Phillip is paying MMs lawyer is suss, like he's trying to control what, if anything, MM says or does. MM should get their own lawyer.

Do you really think you have a cogent point or is this just word salad in support of an agenda?

You realise the world is full of survivors and parents and concerned citizens?

I've seen tattle. No thanks.

THIS ⬆

Every word of it.

I think this is a case of 'you live by the sword, you die by the sword' PS has chosen a high profile position in media and totally shat on his own doorstep.

Sympathy for him is going to hard to come by.

I've never been entirely comfortable with the Cheryl/Liam situation....

But

There is no evidence of a relationship prior to the one at an age appropriate time. (And yes I find it hard to believe if i am honest but thats how it currently stands) By that time there was no power imbalance and two individuals were in parity. Neither party lost status, either incidentally or through the actions of the other, through the relationship ending.

Neither party then played the victim over the relationship. Neither party used there status as a "marginalised" group to try and stop further information coming out.

Buffypaws · Today 06:38
He’s better than Prince Andrew I’ll give him that. He’s certainly putting on a show. Actually his performance reminds me of Walter White”

Ho very dare you? 😁

Yes, I agree. I think there would be more outrage if there were photos of PS and a girl at the ages of 12, 15, 18 and it then came out he'd got her a job and used her for sex.

Neither of them were married with kids either, and they didn't have a hidden sordid fling. How is it the same at all?!

What a load of manipulative bullshit!

PS goes on about there's nothing wrong in messaging someone no matter what their age. No, it's not necessarily illegal but someone in his position should know it's not wise to message a child many many times. If it purely was about helping him get into the industry, the normal thing to do is put him in touch with HR/recruitment and then that would be the end of his part.

Honestly if my child was 20 then they are an adult. Pretty sure most people between the ages of 18-25 have had sex with someone they probably shouldn't have, or done something you look back on and think that wasn't a great idea.

This world is all about connections, no one gets anywhere without knowing someone.

Yes there are some odd bits to the story which PS probably now see'a he was a bit of an idiot. But at the end of day he had an affair, i'm not sure why the media is hounding him like this.

Everyone spouts the "be kind be kind" mantra AFTER a celebrity has been put through this and then killed themselves, where are all those people now?

I don't particularly like PS, but i don't understand the hatred. And i feel more for the guy he had the affair with, his private life is all over the news now anf he is being portrayed as some poor little helpless boy.

He has made a career out of being a vulture himself, 'circling prey' for example presenting a PM with a list of alleged paedophiles live on air without any evidence whatsoever. He didn't seem so bothered about homophobia then.

He is the architect of his own downfall and should have known better. He should show some dignity and consideration for all those he has hurt, stfu, stop blabbing and just go away.

It happens all the time, especially between man (old and possibly rich) and young, attractive woman. Also it's not illegal.

Fair enough. But is there any actual evidence of an age-inappropriate relationship between Philip and this show runner? Is there genuine evidence of grooming or is it all just speculation and gossip? I haven’t seen any genuine evidence, which is why I made the comparison to Liam and Cheryl.

Oh yes that too. Knew I would have forgotten something.

Although personally in the grand scheme of things I don't consider the cheating on the marriage thing on the anywhere near the same scale as the grooming a vulnerable child thing

So his wife genuinely didn’t know anything about this until he told her when this came out? There have been so many stories online for such a long time, surely she had also asked him about it? I think the thing that makes this interview so false is the fact we all sat through the coming out episode with the same theatrics thrown in. He even said his wife’s family had ‘scooped him up’. He sat there lapping all that up while bare faced lying to her and the viewers. Why couldn’t he have done a simple Instagram post or something to reveal his sexuality? Why did it need a WhatsApp group called ‘The Event’? Imagine any other presenter requiring that level of attention for something like that

Maybe time to look at your own boundaries and morals if you see nothing wrong even with the age gap. Instead of asking why the reaction, ask yourself why aren't you reacting in the same way to the majority of people?

'Honestly if my child was 20 then they are an adult'

Context matters! If the other person is in a position of power it is not ok. Schofield was in his 50s it was just beyond inappropriate.