Phillip Schofield admits he knew he was gay when he got married

The co-host of ITV's This Morning came out on the show last Friday.

‘Whatever was 'there' I thought, 'OK, whatever this is, you stay back because I am happy',’ he told The Sun on Sunday.

Keeping his sexuality secret from his wife Steph led to Schofield struggling with suicidal thoughts and having therapy, he said.

Schofield has praised his wife and their daughters Molly and Ruby for their support, and described co-presenter Holly Willoughby as ‘the sister I never had’.

‘Holly has been incredible, so supportive, so kind. I was depressed and it was taking a toll on my mental health,’ he said.

At one time he thought he might have been bisexual, but later came to terms with the fact he was gay.

‘If you ask anyone who is gay, they know, there is no confusion,’ he said.

Schofield said his wife had known he was gay ‘for a while’ and said she was ‘the kindest, sweetest soul I could have possibly met’.

He added that he loves his wife as much as when they first met.

‘That is what makes this so hard. Knowing you are hurting the perfect person,’ he said.

Schofield said he did not know if his marriage would last, and declined to say if he was in a relationship with a man.