Phillip Schofield ‘holds bedside vigil for seriously ill mum’

Phillip Schofield is holding a vigil by his mother’s hospital bedside after the 87-year-old fell seriously ill, according to a new report.

The former This Morning presenter’s mum Pat has been treated for an unknown condition for several days in Cornwall.

The 61-year-old turned to his mother for support after his extra-marital affair with a much younger colleague led him to quit the morning show, and later ITV.

After the news emerged, the TV star was pictured looking sorrowful alongside his mum near his native Newquay.

A TV insider told The Sun: “Given the stress Phillip has been through in recent weeks, this couldn’t have come at a worse time for the family.

“Given that his mother was the woman Phillip turned to in his hour of need, her illness is a particularly cruel twist of fate.

“He adores his mother and the whole family is trying to remain hopeful and keep faith that Pat will make a full recovery.”

Schofield left This Morning last month after 21 years amid reports he and Holly Willoughby’s TV partnership had become strained.

Then six days later, the presenter announced he was leaving ITV after revealing his affair with a runner more than 30 years his junior.

His mother recently endured seeing his brother, Timothy Schofield, jailed for child sex offences in May.

He was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court.

The 54-year-old, a civilian police worker from Bath, told the jury while giving evidence that he had watched pornography with the boy, whom he insisted was over the age of 16 at that time, and they had masturbated while sitting apart, but denied performing sexual acts on the teenager.

The boy, who alleged the offending started when he was 13, told the jury he felt “emotionally blackmailed” by Schofield and “forced” to participate in sexual activity.

Mr Schofield denied the charges but was convicted of three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, three of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of sexual activity with a child.