Phillip Schofield stops Dancing on Ice rehearsals to address sexuality after coming out as gay

Schofield said he didn’t want his news ‘to be the elephant in the room anymore’

Phillip Schofield recently halted Dancing on Ice rehearsals in order to speak about his sexuality with those involved in the show.

On Friday, the television presenter released an emotional statement on Instagram announcing he is gay, stating that his identity is “a reason to celebrate and be proud”.

The 57-year-old was flooded with messages of support following his announcement, including from his This Morning co-presenter Holly Willoughby, LGBT+ charities and his wife of 27 years, Stephanie Lowe.

On Tuesday, Dancing on Ice skater Matt Evers divulged to Heart radio how on Sunday, Schofield stopped rehearsals of the ITV show so as to address the “elephant in the room”.

“It was a really nice atmosphere in the studio,” Evers said.

“I think at one point in production he stopped rehearsals and said, ‘I just need to say this, I don’t want to be the elephant in the room anymore, if you want to give me a hug, give me a hug.’”

Evers explained that Schofield “wanted to get that out in the dress rehearsal” before the television programme was broadcast live, recalling that it was “a really nice moment”.

“Holly teared up and there was about five or six of us that were all standing around him at that point, and we all just gave him a hug and said, ‘You know what, you’re going to be fine,’” the skater said.

Evers also drew parallels between Schofield’s announcement and his own experience of coming to terms with his sexuality.

“Anybody who goes through that at whatever point in their life, when you start living your real truth you become more of a loving person, not that he wasn’t loving previously,” Evers said.

“I can remember the first time I started speaking publicly about my sexuality, and I just felt the colours in the world became more bright, the sun shone brighter. When you start living your real truth, you just start living.”

In Schofield’s Instagram announcement, he wrote that “with the strength and support” of his wife and daughters, he decided to publicly come out as gay.

“This is something that has caused many heart-breaking conversations at home,” he wrote. “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.”

Schofield added that he has felt “stunned” by the “love, instant acceptance and support” he has received from his and his wife’s families.