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    Phillip Schofield has defended Eamonn Holmes after his fellow presenter prompted criticism for a comments he made around Schofield's announcement he is gay.

    Schofield revealed he had been “coming to terms” with the fact that he is gay in a statement posted on social media.

    The 57-year-old, who has been married for 27 years, thanked his wife Stephanie Lowe and their two daughters, Molly and Ruby, for their “strength and support”.

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    Schofield spoke about his decision to come out on This Morning alongside his co-hosts, Holly Willoughby, Ruth Langsford and Holmes, who joked that he was “disappointed” with Schofield.

    “First of all, I thought you were going to come in and announce you had resigned and I could have your job, but that wasn’t to be,” he said.

    Holmes continued: “There’s this great imponderable in life which has always irritated me.

    “I thought, ‘how come he can sit in a hot tub with Holly Willoughby and Steph doesn’t have a problem and Dan doesn’t have a problem?” he said in reference to the hosts’ respective spouses.

    Schofield laughed and described Willoughby as the “sister I never had”.

    But Holmes’ comments prompted criticism on Twitter, with some viewers describing his words as “inappropriate”.

    “A beautiful interview on #ThisMorning wrecked by Eamonn making a tacky hot tub joke,” tweeted one viewer.

    “Eamonn ruined a very heartfelt moment there #ThisMorning,” added another.

    But Schofield defended Holmes.

    "Can I just say that that @EamonnHolmes & @RuthieeL​ were utterly magnificent with me today, privately downstairs just the three of us and upstairs in front of the world," he tweeted.

    "I couldn’t have hoped for a better, calming and loving set of hugs and support, I adore them both.

    "And for the record, @EamonnHolmes made me laugh, he lightened a very emotional moment and I’m very happy that he did.”

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