The younger man, a whopping 34 years Schofield’s junior and a former colleague, is now bound by a gag order, courtesy of a hefty hush money deal, with the secrets of their hidden romance are locked down tighter than a celebrity’s beauty secrets.
The duo, who sizzled behind the scenes, saw their secret affair explode into public view, sending shockwaves across the nation and toppling Schofield from his TV throne. The whispers turned into roars last year when Schofield, at 61, admitted to the affair and his web of lies to ITV bosses, sparking a media frenzy.
Schofield and his young paramour, who first crossed paths when the lad was just 15, kicked off their romance when the young man was 20, following Schofield’s ‘helping hand’ in landing him a gig on This Morning.
The former TV star made a pact with his ex-lover, sealing their lips with a non-disclosure agreement, ensuring that the younger man can never spill the beans on their love story.
The secret deal was inked amidst legal fanfare and a hefty payout for “harm suffered”.
Schofield blabbed about their romance in a bombshell BBC chat, while the young man, now 27 and represented by top-notch lawyers, remains silent, bound by the NDA.
Now facing the music from a media and public backlash, Schofield confessed to feeling “utterly broken and ashamed” about the affair, insisting it was a mistake but not illegal.
Meanwhile, the young man is left to pick up the pieces of his life, hopefully moving on from this Hollywood-worthy saga.
Only time will tell if Schofield can script a comeback from this real-life drama.
