Phillip Schofield: Wife Stephanie supports presenter's 'brave step'

Schofield with Stephanie Lowe at last month's National Television Awards

The wife of presenter Phillip Schofield has said she supports the "brave step" he has taken in revealing he is gay.

Stephanie Lowe told the Sun that she loved the TV star "as much today as I ever have" and that she would "still be there, holding his hand" in the future.

It follows her husband's announcement last week that he was "coming to terms with the fact that I am gay".

His statement prompted an outpouring of support that continued on Sunday's Dancing on Ice, which he co-presents.

• Support for Schofield after he comes out as gay

"You have always been an absolute legend but never, never ever more so than this week my friend," said dancer Ashley Banjo, a judge on the ITV programme.

"I think I speak on behalf of all of us when I say we've got nothing but love and respect for you."

In a statement given to the Sun newspaper, Schofield's wife of 27 years acknowledged her husband's announcement had been "difficult" for the family.

She said they had both been "awestruck by the strength and love" of their two daughters, "even as they've been trying to make sense of it all themselves".

"Everyone should be proud to live their own truth," Lowe continued in her first public statement since her husband's announcement.

Lowe's comments followed an interview Schofield gave to the Sun on Sunday, in which he admitted he did not know what the future held for him and his family.

"It has taken me a long time to get here [and] I am not rushing to get to any other place," the This Morning presenter was quoted as saying.

"We will always be a family. That is the one definite, constant, absolute positive thing. And where the wind blows us I don't know."

The 57-year-old also revealed he had known he was gay when he married Lowe in 1993 and that he had been "perhaps a bit naive".

"I was confused by what it was. I thought maybe I was bisexual," he told the newspaper. "But over time I realised and started coming to terms with it."

Schofield added that his wife had "known for a while" that he was gay.

The star, who started his career as a continuity announcer on the BBC, spoke shortly after his announcement on Friday.

That was followed by an interview with his This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby, in which he said coming out was "absolutely [his] decision".

The pair were back on Monday - Willoughby's 39th birthday - to present ITV's magazine programme.

Information and support: If you or someone you know needs support for issues about sexuality, these organisations may be able to help.