Phillip Scofield Why all the Fuss

Yes, the number of homophobic comments is worrying. We seem to be moving backwards where tolerance is concerned.

His wife may or may not be suffering, though. It could very well be that she has been happy with the arrangement - it can't have been so dreadful as they have been together for 27 years.

People do come to agreements between themselves that may not be to others' tastes, but work for them.

For all we know it may be his wife who wants to be with someone else and has asked for this announcement so that she can do so without censure. We just don't know, and nor should we.

Whatever people think of PS, this is a separate matter, and whereas he needn't have made it public, he must have had his reasons for doing so, and no amount of speculation about them will bring us nearer to knowing what they were.

One good thing is that when someone popular and famous talks about things like this (or cancer screening, or miscarriage, or domestic violence, or anything that can be difficult for some people to talk about) it gives courage to others by normalising it. IMO this can only be a good thing, and whilst I don't care either way about PS's sexuality, if his talking about it helps someone else to have a difficult conversation then I'm pleased he has done it.

Never liked the man, I always thought his 'nice guy' public persona was fake. I don't care if he's gay, but he is a man who has deceived his family for nearly 30 years and that is despicable and deserves no praise.

Elothan I think your totally wrong to say there’s homophobia on here please point out what posts are homophobic I ve missed them I think people are just bored with the hooha and couldn’t really care wether he’s in bed with a man or a woman but maybe I m wrong so show us please

Like Terribull and others, I really couldn't care less, and having also watched the film 1917, I think all the adoration, cries of bravery etc., from his fellow vacuous celebrities are nauseating. He hasn't saved a colleague from the trenches, he hasn't rescued a drowning puppy, he has told the people who pay his massive salary that he fancies men instead of women. Big deal, now can the tv presenters get on with grown up, real news such as what is happening to those children in Syria as the bombing goes on and on.......

Ready meals
Lots of common sense there - very good post thankyou

So PS is gay but it's not a big surprise or shocking. I am sure from what he has said his wife has known for some time. It could be she was quite happy with the lifestyle they have and he has said there hasnt been any men and he is not thinking about that at the moment. How many women stay with their husbands for the lifestyle although their husbands are always having affairs with women?
From today's article he has been seeing a psychologist for some time and a publicity company involved with an article in one of the Sunday papers.
I have several gay friends and transsexual friends. One gay couple became civil partners and later got married. One of them's mother is quite accepting but says in private of course they only live together they don't have a sex life. How sad is that.
Like paddyanne I think he went public before someone else did it for him.

Why is he making such a big fuss? I hope his wife gets support and sympathy. I would have respected him far more if he had made the announcement and then got on with his life. It’s no big deal for the public, just his family. He’ll no doubt be writing a book about it next. ?

Well posted trisher faye17 Sirchenjin Readymeals
I read a comment yesterday that said "I thought Philip said he was GREY. Much more shocking to me "
Sorry I thought that was funny

I remember when PS came out as being grey

Apparently he'd been dyeing his hair for years.

He seems a nice man, he is famous, but apart from that what is the fuss about, this must happen all the time famous or not, leave the man alone.
I hope his wife and family are takimg it well, as he suggested they did.

Would be totally gutted if my husband came out as gay. I feel for his wife Steph, of course they have to say he has the support of his wife and family but behind closed doors I think a very different matter. She must feel very betrayed after 27 years of marriage.

Like so many of you I really couldn't care a less and all this hugging and congratulations - Why?

No doubt there will be a book.

Early 90s - I don't remember that it would have been so difficult then for a TV personality to have just let everyone realise he (or she) was gay as a matter of course without fanfare.

At that time DD had a couple of male friends who were gay (not in a couple) and used to be part of the group of young people who went around together etc. Likewise I had two or three colleagues who were gay; their sexuality did not define them, their work did.

I suspect someone was about to "out" him and he did it first. This happened to someone I worked with - she found out about her husband after 15 years and 2 boys, and was heartbroken. She felt used and unable to trust another man (she's never married again). Everyone rallied around him, determined to show how politically correct they were, but she was expected to just cope with it; very sad.

GillT57, Terribull and others

No, I'm not sure what the big deal is either
Except for his family who deserve consideration. I wonder if his wife must have known, perhaps they both kept quiet for the sake of his children, as other children can be cruel especially if the parent is famous.

I feel sorry for his wife and daughters, 27 years of living a lie !!
I agree that he jumped before he was pushed

I care nothing about who or what he is. That is entirely up to him. This celebrity thing is really getting out of hand. They only have to sneeze and there is a huge drama made out of things. By the way. Best of luck Philip and your wife.

I can't understand the need for what he did. The only people concerned are his family. All the fuss on t.v. you'd think he had performed some miracle and stopped global warming. Pathetic, he should just get on with his very well paid job.

Come on, really? You didn't already think it?

Of we thought it, I'm sure his wife, knew from very early on, but the "fame" was worth hanging around for, and having kids with him.

No different to Michael Barrymore before him!

His wife was also his agent, guess where all the money went... Yep in their pockets!

Today's kids can spot a "gay" a mile off, so I bet they've known for years too.

I agree, there was definitely a reason behind this sudden need to "out" himself. Maybe it was going to be a bad news day‽ Who knows why

I think overall he is going to get a very cynical receotion

more concerned about how much weight he has lost .hope he is well.

he's on a diet ,constantly talks about it on TV and his personal trainer thats why he's lost weight

Several people have said he’s been living a lie, which I think is unfair, as he has said that he loves his wife very much. Not everyone who is gay acts upon their feelings .For all we know they may have had a happy marriage but a rather poor sex life!
For those who say “ who cares?” I think this thread is of interest not so much about PS, but about the idea . I also think there are still many people who are in denial about there sexuality for all the liberal take on it these days.

Quizqueen there is no evidence to suggest Schofield deceived his wife for 30 years. Mrs S may well have been aware of the situation for some time.
I too am cynical about his reasons for keeping it under wraps until now.

Someone was going to out him best advice is always to get it out first less damage