Phillip Schofield says ‘rainbow arms caught’ him when he came out as gay
This Morning host Phillip Schofield. (HGL/GC Images)
Phillip Schofield reflected on his coming out moment while accepting a British LGBT Award, describing how “rainbow arms caught” him when he “made the jump”.
On Friday night (27 August), Schofield was handed the Spirit Award for his coming out interview on his breakfast show This Morning in February last year.
The gay British TV icon held back tears in a prerecorded video to accept the award, after being unable to make the ceremony in person because he is on holiday.
It's true! The one and only Phillip Schofield @Schofe has won the Spirit Award! We were all inspired by Phillip's bravery in coming out on live television, with the support of his wonderful family! Congrats! pic.twitter.com/856TbmRTCe
— British LGBT Awards (@BritLGBTAwards) August 27, 2021
He said: “Wow, this is a biggie. What a proud moment for me… I’ve never won any award individually.
“Every award you win, there’s a team that’s there propping you up and definitely that’s the case with this one.
“I had the most extraordinary people who helped me pack the parachute before I made the jump.
“Friends and family, loved ones, and then there were an amazing amount of rainbow arms outstretched to catch me when I reached the bottom of my jump. I love that, that’s something I didn’t quite know what to expect. But what a lovely family I’ve thrown myself into.”
Schofield, 59, said he wished he could have been at the awards in person, saying: “I just threw a whole load of track and trace and masks into a bag and went to find some sun and then this happens. I wish I was there with you. I will be next year, I promise.”
He added: “Thank you. Thank you very much indeed. Life is still a work in progress but aren’t we all?
“It’s been joyous to meet the people that I have, to have heard the lovely things they’ve said to me, and to share a moment like this with you.”
Phillip Schofield has insisted that he and his wife have ‘not discussed’ a divorce
Earlier this year, Phillip Schofield bought a £1 million house with his wife, Stephanie Lowe, and insisted that that divorce isn’t in the cards for the couple.
Schofield and Lowe purchased the house in Newquay, Cornwall through Fistral Productions, a company Schofield and Lowe jointly opened in 2019.
Asked by The Daily Star about a potential divorce from his wife, he said that it “has not been discussed”.
Schofield added: “We are picking our way through and however that works, and it’s a work in progress.
“I am a work in progress. Steph is a work in progress.”
