BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts

Hello, we thought it was worth bringing you a bonus episode of newscast because our

colleague, Amarajan of today's program, and University Challenge Fame, has been interviewing

Philip Skulfield after he stood down from ITV's this morning program. In fact, all his presenting

commitment to ITV after it emerged that he had misled his bosses about a relationship he'd

had at work with a much younger colleague. So here is the quite lengthy interview that covers

a lot of grounds with Philip Skulfield conducted by Amarajan. Few people know the power of television

testimony like Philip Skulfield. For more than 40 years he has been central to our national life.

But last week he left his job on this morning on ITV amid a blaze of headlines and allegations.

In response to newspaper inquiries, Skulfield has now admitted that he had an unwise but not illegal

relationship with a younger member of staff on this morning. The younger man was 15 when they met

but 20, Skulfield says, when the relationship became sexual. In the past week there has been an

avalanche of newspaper stories and social media speculation and abuse. Now, Philip Skulfield wants

to tell his side of the story and I want to ask him some questions on your behalf.

Philip, thank you for speaking to me and to the BBC. You've had quite a week. How are you?

It's like a weird numbness. I know that's a selfish point of view.

But you've come to a point where you just think how much are you supposed to take if all of those

people that write all of that stuff? Do they ever think that there's actually a person at the other end?

And so here I am. Are you feeling okay to do this? Are you feeling strong enough to do this

Yeah, I have to. Why do you want to do this interview? Because there is an innocent person

here who didn't do anything wrong. Who is vulnerable and probably feels like I do.

Yeah, a lot of my questions are going to be uncomfortable and it's face-to-intrusive but

...