Friends of Caroline Flack ‘upset’ after Phillip Schofield comparison

Friends of Caroline Flack today said they were ‘upset and cross’ that Phillip Schofield had compared himself to the late Love Island presenter.

Interviewed by the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Schofield confessed he felt he had ‘nothing ahead of him’ in his TV career after being forced out of ITV two weeks ago.

Appearing on camera for the first time since admitting to the Mail last week that he had had an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair, Schofield was asked how he was feeling to which he replied: ‘I think I understand how Caroline Flack felt.’

The 61-year-old said the fallout from his admission had been ‘relentless’ and praised his two daughters for saving his life, claiming he ‘wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for’ them.

But Schofield’s comments have left those close to Ms Flack, who took her own life three years ago, in disbelief.

© Provided by Daily Mail Caroline Flack (pictured in 2019) was accused of assault following an argument with her partner, Lewis Burton © Provided by Daily Mail Phillip Schofield was asked how he was feeling to which he replied: ‘I think I understand how Caroline Flack felt’

One told the Mail: ‘It is absolutely unbelievable that Phil would do this. What a low blow from him.

‘We just don’t get why he would compare himself to Caroline. It came from nowhere, Caroline had her own troubles that even she felt nobody could relate to.

‘So how Phil could is lost to those who loved Caroline so dearly.’

Schofield raised Ms Flack’s name when he was talking about the collapse of his TV career.

He confessed he now had to talk about being a presenter ‘in the past tense’.

Ms Flack killed herself after learning she was due to be charged with allegedly assaulting her boyfriend.

She was distraught at losing her ITV job, which friends say she ‘absolutely loved’.

As well as Ms Flack’s friends taking exception to the former This Morning star’s comments, social media was awash with criticism.

One Twitter user said: ‘Phillip Schofield said he now knows what Caroline Flack went through.

© Provided by Daily Mail The 40-year-old took her own life two months after being arrested on suspicion of assault in December 2019 © Provided by Daily Mail Flack allegedly assaulted her boyfriend Lewis Burton at her home in December 2019

‘He really needs to hush and sit in a corner as he’s not making any new friends.’

The Mail can also reveal Ms Flack avoided appearing on This Morning when Schofield was the host.

Whenever she wanted to do a segment about Love Island, she would request she did it on a Friday when he wasn’t there.

A source who was close to the late star said: ‘Caroline preferred to deal with the Friday gang.’

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.

Read more