Phillip Schofield has revealed how his wife was “very, very angry” about his affair with a younger male colleague, but that his daughters are “guarding” him during the fallout.
In his first interview since admitting to the relationship, the former ITV presenter, 61, said that his daughters, Ruby and Molly, were “my greatest asset”.
He told The Sun that he had previously denied rumours about the affair to his wife, Stephanie Lowe, when she had asked about them.
Recalling breaking the news to her he said: “She got off a plane and I phoned her up and texted saying, ‘I need to talk to you’.
“She called back and I told her. She was very, very angry.”
He added: “She is very, very angry but we spoke today. And my daughters were unbelievable.
“They are without question, our greatest asset. I always say our, but from a father’s point of view, my greatest asset are my girls.”
Schofield went on to say that his daughters had arrived to “look after” him in the days since the affair was made public.
“If it hadn’t been for my girls last week I wouldn’t be here,” he told The Sun.
“I know I deserve it but they said, ‘Don’t you dare, we’re here to look after you’.
“I’ve had such a s*** couple of years, and with this ultimate final cataclysm, I looked ahead at nothing and the girls said, ‘Don’t, we are here to look after you. Don’t you dare do it on our watch’.
“And that took me one step back and they won’t leave me alone. They were guarding me.”
Daughter Ruby was present for the 90-minute interview, according to The Sun.
Meanwhile, Schofield says he has been “vaping a lot” and drinking Southern Comfort whiskey liqueur.
He told the newspaper that he had “blistered” both of his hands by sitting at home “staring into space”.
“I am not sleeping, I am not eating. There’s a lot of Southern Comfort,” he said.
“My mind is in constant, utter turmoil. I’ve been vaping, a lot.”
Schofield showed his “collection” of blisters and calluses, according to The Sun.
“I didn’t realise until suddenly it hurt, but I’ve been sitting looking up at the sky or out of the window, just staring into space,” he said.
“I just sit on the sofa and stare. I realise by doing that, I’ve blistered both hands.”