Phillip Schofield has announced he is gay.

The This Morning presenter - who has been married for nearly 27 years - made the revelation on Friday morning, sharing an emotional post on his Instagram account.

The statement reads: "You never know what’s going on in someone’s seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their wellbeing — and so you won’t know what has been consuming me for the last few years.

“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.”

The presenter also praises his "incredible" wife, adding: "I love her so very much. She is the kindest soul I've ever met."

Schofield has been a mainstay on UK television for more than 30 years. He got his break in broadcasting in New Zealand but returned to the UK to work on children’s BBC.

His move to ITV saw him become a presenter on This Morning in 2002, as well as co-hosting coverage of major events such as royal weddings. He has also appeared on the West End stage.

Phillip Schofield - In pictures 38 show all Phillip Schofield - In pictures 1/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning has announced he is gay ITV 2/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 3/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 4/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 5/38 Phillip Schofield and Stephanie Lowe attending the National Television Awards 2019 PA 6/38 Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Dr Ranj Singh, Ruth Langsford, Eamonn Holmes, Rochelle Humes, Lisa Snowdon and the cast of "This Morning", pose in the winners room after winning the Live Magazine Show award during the National Television Awards 2020 Getty Images 7/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pose with the award for Live Magazine Show for 'This Morning' in the winners room attends the National Television Awards 2020 Getty Images 8/38 Phillip Schofield making his big break on New Zealand TV 9/38 Phillip Schofield with Gordon The Gopher 10/38 Phillip Schofield in his early BBC TV day 11/38 BBC TV's Saturday morning children's programme "Going Live" with Sarah Greene, puppet "Gordon the Gopher", Phillip Schofield and resident fashion expert Annnabel Giles in 1987 PA 12/38 Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene on the 'hot line' in London, as they host BBC1's saturday morning programme 'Going Live' in 1987 PA 13/38 Phillip Schofield with Caron Keating and Sarah Greene in 1988 PA 14/38 Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie attend the London premiere of Evita in 1996 PA 15/38 Phillip Schofield, his wife Stephanie and children Ruby (right) and Molly arrive for the premiere of Disney's new animated film Return to Neverland at the Odeon Leicester Square, London in 2002 PA 16/38 Phillip Schofield Daily Mail 17/38 Phillip Schofield in Joseph Daily Mail 18/38 Phillip Schofield in the 1996 title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat PA 19/38 phillip Schofield with the mythical creature 'Pushmi-Pullyu' on stage in the production of Dr Doolittle at the Apollo Theatre in 1998 PA 20/38 Fern Britton with Phillip Schofield prenting This Morning in 2003 21/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for Dancing On Ice in 2006 22/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on the This Morning set, after Holly was named today as Fern Britton's replacement on the flagship ITV daytime show This Morning in 2009 PA 23/38 hillip Schofield and family arriving for the 2009 British Soap Awards PA 24/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for Dancing On Ice in 2009 25/38 Phillip Schofield and family arriving for the premiere of 'Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience' in 2009 PA 26/38 Phillip Schofield 27/38 The Cube with presenter Phillip Schofield iITV 28/38 Phillip Schofield with the Entertainment Programme award received for The Cube at the Philips British Academy Television Awards 2011 PA 29/38 Prince of Wales talking to TV presenter Philip Schofield, during a 2012 reception for celebrities and volunteers of the Diamond Champions volunteers organised by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), at Clarence House in central London PA 30/38 Phillip Schofield presenting 5 Gold Rings ITV 31/38 Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton presenting All Star Mr & Mrs Rex Features 32/38 The Queen greeting Phillip Schofield at a reception for the Queen's Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace in 2016 PA 33/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield during the press launch for the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice at the Natural History Museum Ice Rink in 2018 PA 34/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. Dancing On Ice: Series 12 in 2020 ITV 35/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 36/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 37/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 38/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 1/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning has announced he is gay ITV 2/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 3/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 4/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 5/38 Phillip Schofield and Stephanie Lowe attending the National Television Awards 2019 PA 6/38 Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Dr Ranj Singh, Ruth Langsford, Eamonn Holmes, Rochelle Humes, Lisa Snowdon and the cast of "This Morning", pose in the winners room after winning the Live Magazine Show award during the National Television Awards 2020 Getty Images 7/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pose with the award for Live Magazine Show for 'This Morning' in the winners room attends the National Television Awards 2020 Getty Images 8/38 Phillip Schofield making his big break on New Zealand TV 9/38 Phillip Schofield with Gordon The Gopher 10/38 Phillip Schofield in his early BBC TV day 11/38 BBC TV's Saturday morning children's programme "Going Live" with Sarah Greene, puppet "Gordon the Gopher", Phillip Schofield and resident fashion expert Annnabel Giles in 1987 PA 12/38 Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene on the 'hot line' in London, as they host BBC1's saturday morning programme 'Going Live' in 1987 PA 13/38 Phillip Schofield with Caron Keating and Sarah Greene in 1988 PA 14/38 Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie attend the London premiere of Evita in 1996 PA 15/38 Phillip Schofield, his wife Stephanie and children Ruby (right) and Molly arrive for the premiere of Disney's new animated film Return to Neverland at the Odeon Leicester Square, London in 2002 PA 16/38 Phillip Schofield Daily Mail 17/38 Phillip Schofield in Joseph Daily Mail 18/38 Phillip Schofield in the 1996 title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat PA 19/38 phillip Schofield with the mythical creature 'Pushmi-Pullyu' on stage in the production of Dr Doolittle at the Apollo Theatre in 1998 PA 20/38 Fern Britton with Phillip Schofield prenting This Morning in 2003 21/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for Dancing On Ice in 2006 22/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on the This Morning set, after Holly was named today as Fern Britton's replacement on the flagship ITV daytime show This Morning in 2009 PA 23/38 hillip Schofield and family arriving for the 2009 British Soap Awards PA 24/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for Dancing On Ice in 2009 25/38 Phillip Schofield and family arriving for the premiere of 'Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience' in 2009 PA 26/38 Phillip Schofield 27/38 The Cube with presenter Phillip Schofield iITV 28/38 Phillip Schofield with the Entertainment Programme award received for The Cube at the Philips British Academy Television Awards 2011 PA 29/38 Prince of Wales talking to TV presenter Philip Schofield, during a 2012 reception for celebrities and volunteers of the Diamond Champions volunteers organised by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), at Clarence House in central London PA 30/38 Phillip Schofield presenting 5 Gold Rings ITV 31/38 Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton presenting All Star Mr & Mrs Rex Features 32/38 The Queen greeting Phillip Schofield at a reception for the Queen's Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace in 2016 PA 33/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield during the press launch for the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice at the Natural History Museum Ice Rink in 2018 PA 34/38 Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. Dancing On Ice: Series 12 in 2020 ITV 35/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 36/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 37/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV 38/38 Phillip Schofield on This Morning ITV

Shortly after the announcement, Schofield was interviewed on This Morning by his co-host Holly Willoughby.

Schofield thanked his colleague and good friend for her support, explaining that listening to stories from the show's guests had motivated his decision to come out as gay.

He said: "There is no question that in recent times it has consumed my head.

“I got to the stage where I thought …we sit here every day and I’m over there [on the other side of the sofa] and some amazingly brave, incredible person is sitting there and I am listening to their story and I am thinking, ‘Oh my god, you are so brave’ and I am thinking, ‘I have to be that person.’

"All you can be in your life is honest with yourself. I was getting to the point where I knew I wasn’t honest with myself."

"And I'm thinking, I have to be that person."

Shortly after the interview, Willoughby posted a snap of herself and Schofield on Instagram.

She captioned it: “Never been more proud of my friend than I am today.”

Support for Schofield poured in on social media with stars including Susanna Reid and David Walliams sharing messages.

Walliams tweeted: "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.”