Phillip Schofield has spoken about his long-term fight with himself over his sexuality before he came out this week.
The This Morning host, 57, said his longtime partner Steph, who he met when he was 25 and they worked on children's shows together, has known for some time before he decided to tell the public.
And he said he had denied his sexuality to himself before they married 27 years ago.
He told The Sun On Sunday: “I am not saying I didn’t know.
“Whatever was ‘there’ I thought, ‘OK, whatever this is, you stay back because I am happy’.”
Phil, who married Steph in 1993 when he was starring in Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, said he had been overjoyed when they had their daughters Molly and Ruby and were bringing them up together.
And his wife Steph told the paper: “We have had to face the most emotionally painful time in our 27 years of marriage.”
Video: Phil Schofield tells Holly about the moment he told his mum
Phil said he had been confused for such a long time but had now fully come to terms with who he is.
He said: “I was confused by what it was. I thought maybe I was bisexual.
“But over time I realised and started coming to terms with it.
“And I realised I had to be honest with myself."
He added that now he knew for certain, saying: "If you ask anyone who is gay, they know, there is no confusion.”
And he said he was so grateful for his wife's support.
He said: "We have been very truthful and honest. She has known for a while. When you live with someone you know these things don’t you?
“There is no question she is a truly remarkable person - the kindest, sweetest soul I could have possibly met.”
"That is what makes this so hard. Knowing you are hurting the perfect person.
“But I still love Steph as much as when we first met. More probably.”
