Phillip Schofield’s This Morning lover was 15 when he first met him

He met him whilst giving a talk at a theatre school

On Friday evening, Schofield released a statement to the Daily Mail in which he revealed he had lied about having a relationship with the much younger colleague whilst he was married to his then-wife Stephanie Lowe.

It has now been reported that the 61-year-old first met him when he gave a talk at a theatre school.

Schofield was apparently called on by the boy's relatives to a give a talk at his school.

The youngster is said to have asked Schofield for a job in TV, which led to him getting an interview and eventually a role as an ITV production assistant when he turned 18.

The MailOnline reports that the affair between the two started shortly afterwards, when the veteran TV presenter was in his early 50s and still married to Lowe.

Schofield's lawyers have confirmed that the presenter met his future colleague when the boy was 15, but said the affair started after he began working at ITV.

This comes the day after Schofield's This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby denied having any knowledge of his affair with the colleague.

Willoughby claimed Schofield lied to her about whether the reports of a relationship between him and the ITV employee were true.

In a post on Instagram, she wrote: “It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news.

"When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.

“It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”

Former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes has also claimed that he was "deceived and lied to" by Schofield.

Last weekend, Schofield suddenly stepped down from his role as presenter on This Morning after 21 years.

This followed reports of a breakdown in his relationship with Willoughby.

Cover presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to Schofield at the start of Monday’s programme.

Schofield had presented This Morning show since 2002, with Willoughby joining him as a co-presenter in 2009.

Willoughby is currently on holiday but set to return to the show on Monday 5 June.

Earlier this year, his brother Timothy Schofield was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a boy.

Related links:

This Morning ‘facing the axe’ following Phillip Schofield affair scandal

Eamonn Holmes makes bombshell claim following Phillip Schofield ITV resignation

ITV issues statement amid claims Holly Willoughby was involved in Phillip Schofield’s exit