This Morning's Phillip Schofield has come out as gay in an emotional statement on Instagram.
The 57-year-old TV presenter has been married to Stephanie Lowe since 1993, and they have two daughters together, Molly, 27, and Ruby, 24.
Phillip was supported by co-host Holly Willoughby on This Morning today - ahead of Friday hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, who were watching backstage - with Holly reading out his statement on the show.
"With every person that I tell," he told Holly, the burden "became a little lighter". He later affirmed that he had not had his hand forced in coming out, stating: "This is my decision."
In his statement on social media, Phillip wrote: "You never know what's going on in someone's seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their well-being - and so you won't know what has been consuming me for the last few years.
"With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.
"This is something that has caused many heart-breaking conversations at home. I have been married to Steph for nearly 27 years, and we have two beautiful grown-up daughters, Molly and Ruby. My family have held me so close: they have tried to cheer me up, to smother me with kindness and love, despite their own confusion, Yet still I can't sleep and there have been some very dark moments."
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
