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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

Holly Willoughby pictured kissing Phillip Schofield's former lover on cheek at NTAs

Holly Willoughby was seen kissing the man Phillip Schofield had an affair with on the cheek at the NTAs in 2020.

The This Morning host, 42, was outside the O2 arena in London with her husband Dan Baldwin when Phil's former lover came up to her.

Holly - wearing Dan's suit jacket draped over her pink ball gown - exchanges a few words with the runner - who was also at the awards - before the pair kiss each other goodbye.

Not in shot, but nearby, father-of-two Phillip could be seen vaping - with his wife Stephanie standing next to him.

The photos were taken on January 28 2020, before Phil came out as gay.

On February 8 the same year, the former Broom Cupboard star tearfully addressed This Morning viewers with Holly by his side, saying: "With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.

The former employee was seen with Holly at the NTAs in 2020 (CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
They pictures were taken days before Phillip came out as gay (CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)

"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."

Rumours Phil was having an affair with the young runner had been floating around for years, but never confirmed, however on Saturday the presenter admitted they were true.

Both Holly and Phillip were at the event (CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
Holly exchanged a few words with the runner (CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)

In a bombshell confession, Phil said: "I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.

"Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.

"I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife."

After his shocking statement, many wondered whether Holly or ITV knew about the affair, however Holly said: "When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.

After saying goodbye, they went their separate ways (CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
It comes as Phillip admitted to having an affair with the younger employee (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"It's been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson told the Mirror: " ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.

"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.

"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.

"Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."

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