EXCLUSIVE: Phillip Schofield enjoys an evening out with Vanessa Feltz at fashionable West London restaurant as she takes his place on This Morning – as pals say he’s ‘fairly sure’ he won’t ever work once more after affair scandal

Phillip Schofield has been noticed for the primary time in months smiling on a night out with Vanessa Feltz – as pals near the fallen star declare he’s ‘fairly sure’ he won’t ever work once more. 

The pair have been seen as they left the Little Fowl restaurant in Chiswick, West London, with Schofield serving to his long-term pal into her automobile earlier than departing on foot.  

It’s the first time the previous ITV star, 61, has been seen publicly within the capital since his dramatic resignation from the broadcaster in Could after admitting to an ‘unwise however not unlawful’ affair with a a lot youthful male colleague. 

Since standing down from his position, Schofield has develop into one thing of a recluse, spending a lot of his time in Newquay, Cornwall along with his 87-year-old mom Pat, after saying he had develop into too frightened to step outdoors fearing he could be ‘spat on.’

However final evening Schofield broke cowl for the primary time in over a month to take pleasure in an evening out on the fashionable small plates restaurant. Carrying a blue swimsuit jacket and patterned white shirt he appeared to hear intensely to Feltz, 61, as they walked to her automobile, earlier than waving her off with a cheerful goodbye. 

It comes as pals of Schofield mentioned that his working life was now ‘over’ following his admission that he had an affair with a a lot youthful colleague after which lied about it.

One informed MailOnline: ‘Phillip has been very, very down just lately. He does not understand how he’s going to work once more.

Phillip Schofield has been noticed for the primary time in over a month with former This Morning common Vanessa Feltz 

The pair have been seen as they left the Little Fowl restaurant in Chiswick, West London

Schofield waved off his companion earlier than strolling off down the road by himself 

The previous ITV star has develop into a lot of a recluse since he stood down from his position after admitting to mendacity about an affair with a a lot youthful colleague 

Schofield and his co-presenter of 13 years, Holly Willoughby, pictured with the person he had an affair with

‘He’s fairly certain that he’s completed. He retains saying he won’t ever work once more. It is devastating for him to understand however he additionally is aware of that there’s not lots he can do about it.

‘He does not know who will take him, he is aware of there is no such thing as a means again to ITV or the BBC.’

Sources near Schofield say that his circle of pals are attempting to encourage him to suppose that he can have a ‘fulfilling life’ away from showbusiness.

One other added: ‘Simply because he is probably not on telly once more doesn’t suggest he cannot take pleasure in his life. Phil is not so certain although.’

There have been rumours earlier in the summertime that Schofield was being lined as much as rebuild his profession on TalkTV, however his legal professionals shortly shut these claims down, stating that he was ‘completely not’ becoming a member of the channel so far as he was conscious. 

Schofield was final pictured in public on the finish of June, the place he was noticed by a member of the general public trying ‘very drained’ as he strolled via a parking lot in Cornwall clutching a provider bag.

Days earlier than that had been seen celebrating his mom’s 87th birthday, additionally within the county, trying fairly critical as a substitute of completely satisfied.

In the meantime ITV has been plunged additional into scorching water over the scandal at present as workers informed Parliament that they confronted ‘additional bullying and discrimination’ after elevating considerations of toxicity and harassment with the broadcaster.

Carrying a blue swimsuit jacket and a patterned white shirt, Schofield appeared to hear intently as Feltz spoke to him 

He then was then seen giving his long-term pal a cheery goodbye earlier than strolling off 

Schofield was final seen in public in June. That week he was noticed by a member of the general public in a Cornish automobile park, days after being seen arriving at his moms home for her 87th birthday

ITV chief government Dame Carolyn McCall confronted questions from MPs concerning the former host’s exit from the present, as workers got here ahead within the wake of the scandal to model the programme as poisonous place of business that fostered a bullying tradition.

In correspondence printed at present, Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Tradition, Media and Sport Committee, informed Dame Carolyn that since her grilling in June, extra workers, each previous and current, had raised comparable considerations.

Within the letter dated July 24, Dame Caroline wrote: ‘Within the month that has handed since your look earlier than the committee, now we have been contacted by a lot of people who’ve recognized themselves as at present working or beforehand having labored on This Morning or as a part of the broader ITV Daytime crew.

‘These people converse with nice satisfaction about working at ITV and are massively constructive about a lot of their colleagues.

‘Nevertheless, additionally they elevate claims of poisonous working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harassment.

‘A few of these people who’ve contacted us have described how their resolution to boost considerations inside ITV has led to additional bullying and discrimination, and in some circumstances having to depart the organisation with a settlement settlement.’

ITV chief government Dame Carolyn McCall confronted questions from MPs concerning the former host’s exit from the present in June 

In a response, Dame Carolyn requested the parliamentary committee to ‘encourage people to contact ITV through our reporting line SafeCall’ via which stories could be made confidentially or anonymously.

Former and present workers may also contact Jane Mulcahy KC who’s main an exterior overview of the details after Schofield’s exit, which is predicted to be accomplished in September, Dame Carolyn mentioned.

She added: ‘As we made clear to you and the committee, we’re completely dedicated to enabling individuals to boost any points or complaints they could have about working at ITV.

‘We at all times take these critically and can examine and take no matter motion is suitable. Nevertheless, we’re unable to take action if we can not interact with these individuals.’

The broadcaster got here beneath fireplace when Schofield’s affair emerged as they have been accused of realizing concerning the relationship.

Former This Morning Presenter Eamonn Holmes accused the bosses of a ‘complete cover-up’ of the affair, claiming these in authority ‘needed to know’ about it as a result of the younger man, who has by no means been named, was ferried between Schofield’s flat and studio in taxis ‘paid for by ITV’.

Cristo Foufas, who’s a presenter for TalkTV however used to work in ITV’s manufacturing unit, described the connection as an ‘open secret’. 

Schofield’s London flat is believed to be the place he would take his junior colleague for secret trysts

Schofield pictured at his London flat in 2020 

Schofield pictured along with his estranged spouse Stephanie, earlier than they separated following his announcement that he was homosexual 

 ‘I used to be a producer at ITV Daytime throughout the interval the place this was all happening,’ he informed the Jeremy Vine Present in Could. 

‘It was identified among the many manufacturing workers and folks decrease down the meals chain what was occurring. Everybody knew that he was with Phillip.’

Schofield had been concerned within the tryst for years, protecting it secret till he admitted to The Mail on Sunday that he had lied concerning the affair simply being rumours.

He went on to admit he had misled his employer, his colleagues, his pals and his brokers on the administration agency YMU, who dropped him consequently.

When he broke his silence after leaving the present he insisted he had not ‘groomed’ the person, regardless of first assembly him when he was 15.

And he went on to declare: ‘Attraction is attraction. It is no completely different within the homosexual world as it’s within the heterosexual world or within the lesbian world.

‘There should not be a distinction. That is the place homophobia is available in. We did first meet when he was 15, I visited the drama faculty [he attended]. 

‘So yeah, there is a distinction. It is accepted by Leonardo DiCaprio, it isn’t accepted if it is within the homosexual world.’

The previous ITV character went on to deal with his fears of going out in public, worrying he would obtain verbal abuse or be spat on.

He mentioned: ‘I have no idea a time I will stroll out of the door.

‘I haven’t got any spirit. My pals inform me, “It’s going to get higher”. It will not. Not now. Not this one.

‘You watch all these layers of you slide away and slide away and slide away. The issues that have been expensive to you. However I deserve it. It is my fault. I deserve it.’ 

He mentioned he would by no means use social media once more following the dramatic fallout.  

Final week it was revealed that Schofield had lowered the asking value of his £1.2million west London flat that he purchased along with his spouse.

The luxurious bolthole, only a stones throw away from Tv Central in White Metropolis the place his morning present was filmed, turned a spot the place Schofield would take his youthful lover for ‘playtime’ on Thursdays, it was claimed earlier this yr.

The stainless two-bedroom flat, which is a part of a gated group, has had its worth slashed by £85,000.

It follows Schofield and his estranged spouse Stephanie, 59, already lowering the property’s asking value £100,000, making it decrease than the worth they paid for it in 2012.  

The flat is alleged to be in ‘excellent situation’ and is the ‘good setting for entertaining’.

Stepping away from the storm, Willoughby spent her summer time break jetting off to Cornwall along with her husband Dan Baldwin and youngsters Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and Chester, eight

Willoughby spent a lot of her two-month break on the Iberian peninsula, absorbing the solar at a £2million mansion

When Schofield stepped down from his position there have been fears that This Morning could possibly be axed all collectively.

And these considerations solely grew when his co-presenter of 13 years Holly Willoughby disappeared on vacation with out saying goodbye to viewers.

However sources have since confirmed that the 42-year-old is way from quitting, as a substitute being set to signal a profitable new contract – and save the present.

They confirmed that Willoughby might be again as deliberate in September, regardless of workers behind-the-scenes concern she was ‘quietly quitting’.

Stepping away from the storm, Willoughby spent her summer time break jetting off to Cornwall along with her husband Dan Baldwin and youngsters Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and Chester, eight. 

She has spent a lot of her two-month break on the Iberian peninsula, absorbing the solar at a £2million mansion.

The star made quite a lot of appearances placing on a courageous face on the Algarve, purchasing in an exquisite yellow costume, having a dip within the sea and hanging out along with her household.

She additionally celebrated her sixteenth anniversary along with her husband on the seashore, giving her Instagram followers a uncommon perception into her marriage and hinting that he is helped her heal from the difficultly of the final yr.