Phil Schofield coming out as gay...

[girlie123]

Is anyone else really shocked - I had no idea whatsoever, not that I should have I don't know the man personally or anything.
It must have been so hard for him and his family and I take my hat off to them all as from the piece he has written it sounds like they are handling it like mature adults, a lot of tears and heartache but also a lot of love and support.

I've just seen this.

I'm surprised too but I Think it's so sad he's not felt able to come out until now. He's 57, that's a lot of years living a life not being your true self

Good luck to him and his family

I don't think it will come as a shock to many people and even less of a shock that he has announced it now.

After all the bad feeling that goes on in the show coming to light recently-how he has upset some of the team- he probably thought best to do it himself before it was done for him!

I hope his wife has the support she needs at a time when she is expected by society to be happy for him.

Doesn't take away from his bravery but in this day and age if just doesn't feel like a big deal anymore.

Not exactly shocked that he's gay, but shocked that he's come out. I wonder if he's trying to get ahead of the game, I've heard some unsavoury rumours about him over the years from someone who could quite reasonably be expected to have knowledge of his working life.

Which of the Sunday papers was about to run it, I wonder?

It's been an open secret for years

He's been getting bad press for his treatment of the staff and crew on TM, so the timingy is dubious. Was he about to be outed or is he after sympathy?

I feel sorry that he has been living a lie and i hope he will be happy in the future

His wife sounds awesome and apparently his children have been fantastic as well

Such a shame its taken so long for him to be able to be himself

I feel sorry for his wife

I'd never considered it before but I've just watched TM and it seems so obvious now.

I agree, it shouldn't be a big deal. I have two gay nephews and when they came out my sister said its so unfair, we don't have to announce to the world that we are straight.
I wish him and his family peace and happiness

I hope his wife has the support she needs at a time when she is expected by society to be happy for him

Oh i was trying to come up with a way of saying this so thank you lou

I feel sorry for his wife, especially if she didnt know (ive no idea whether she did or didnt) but im sure she doesnt need my sorrow

I would be very upset if it happened to me

I wasn’t expecting this one. Am I being cynical by wondering if he’s chosen to do it now so that the story is ‘Phil’s brave struggle to be himself’ instead of ‘Phil’s feuds with co-stars’?

His wife is genuinely lovely, she is a friend of a friend. I do hope that she and the rest of his family will be left alone by the gutter press.

I feel sorry for his wife too.

His poor wife. I feel incredibly sorry for her as her marriage has presumably been based on a lie. His statement makes it clear that this is something he has been addressing only in the last few years so it would be fair to surmise that she didn't make an informed decision when marrying him. Now we will have millions of articles staying how marvellous and brave he is whilst she is left picking up the pieces.

I also suspect this will be used as an excuse for any bay behaviour in an employeyment context

I was more surprised when I found out he had a wife than I am now. It’s a shame he didn’t feel comfortable being able to say this years ago.

I also had at the back of my mind if the press have a story they were going to run.

Not shocked at all. Lots of people are gay and we have no idea.

It's bound to be tough on all his loved ones....his wife and daughters more so I would imagine,as a parent myself and a daughter I honestly do not know how I would feel if this was my parents x

I only feel bad for his wife.

the rumours always used to be about him + Rylan, I've no idea how true they were.

OMG Im shocked!!!

we don't have to announce to the world that we are straight
well we would if we'd been in a gay relationship for 27 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes Im cynical as to his now coming out- clearly trying to bury the nasty image that has recently come to light

Fair play to him for announcing it, but very unsurprised by it.

Well said @mushypeasandchipstogo. They will always be a family
I wish them all well

Best of luck to him, and to his family. His wife must be heartbroken and my thoughts are primarily with her.

It certainly does make you wonder if he was about to be "outed" and he got in there first... Be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of days in this respect. I just hope his family are left alone to deal with things x