This Morning presenter, Phillip Schofield, who has been married to his wife Stephanie for nearly 27 years, has come out as gay and paid tribute to his family for their support.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Schofield said: "You never know what's going on in someone's seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their well-being - and so you won't know what has been consuming me for the last few years.
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"With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.
"This is something that has caused many heart-breaking conversations at home. 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."
Discussing his announcement on This Morning with co-host and longtime friend Holly Willoughby, an emotional Schofield said: "It's funny because everyone I have spoken to, you, have all been so supportive, so loving and caring.
"My entire family, to a person, have grabbed us and said 'It's OK, we love you, we are proud of you,' and every person I tell, it gets a little lighter and a little lighter.
"But at the same time I've made this decision, which is essential for me and for my head, which is the reason why I've done this, I'm very aware that Steph and the girls are at home watching this.
"They have been supporting this as, we got to this moment."
Schofield added: "I got to the stage where I think we sit here every day and I'm over there and some amazingly brave, incredible person is sitting here and I'm listening to their story, thinking 'Oh my god, you're so brave' and I'm thinking 'I have to be that person'.
"All you can be in your life is honest with yourself and I was getting to the point where I wasn't being honest with myself and I didn't like myself very much because I wasn't being honest with myself."
The duo were then joined by fellow This Morning presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.
After a round of hugs, Holmes said: "Nobody should be embarrassed about their sexuality and it's fantastic you have spoken out and there will be so many people who have been strengthened by what you've said."
He added that he and wife Ruth would be "the first to stand by you".
Willoughby said she could "feel the relief" from her fellow co-presenter.
Asked if he was considering a relationship with someone else at this time, Schofield said: "I don't think so, I'm not thinking there, I'm doing each day at a time now.
"And this has always been a slow process and there's no fast process after, this was the big day, and this was the day I knew that everything was pointing towards and I could not have done it if it hadn't been you, so afterwards I don't know, there's no one, I'm not rushing to anybody."
Willoughby offered words of support, saying she would be by his side "for ever and ever".
Voicing his support for Schofield, actor and comedian David Walliams said on Twitter: "I am sending all my love to Phillip Schofield today. I have always held him in the highest regard, and now have nothing but respect and admiration for him.
"Let's hope we are moving towards a world where no-one has to come out anymore, they can just be who they are and celebrate that."
