Phillip Schofield comes under fire from iconic musician over ‘awful’ joke during 90s presenting gig
Former pop sensation Chesney Hawkes has branded Phillip Schofield a “b*****d” over a brutal television joke from 1991 that has haunted him for decades.
The 53-year-old singer has finally spoken out about an incident at the Smash Hits Poll Winners’ Party, where the former This Morning presenter performed a controversial skit.
Hawkes revealed that whilst Schofield was initially welcoming during his rise to fame, their relationship soured dramatically.
“Phillip Schofield… B*****d. I remember he once did a (jokey) sketch at [these] awards in 1991 where he pushed me into Hell with a pitchfork. I remember that moment as I was only a kid, I was 19,” Hawkes told The Mirror.
The criticism comes as Hawkes prepares to launch his first new album in 10 years.
The incident left a lasting impression on Hawkes, who watched the mockery unfold from home alongside his parents.
“I remember it well. I watched [the show] that year with my parents at home and they did this horrible thing where Phillip pushed me to the gates of Hell with a pitchfork,” he recalled.
The skit featured an actor dressed to impersonate the teenage singer, complete with a blonde wig and fake mole.
“At first, Phillip was one of the first people who was very nice to me,” Hawkes explained. “We did all the TV shows like Live and Kicking in those days and the Radio 1 roadshows. And suddenly they turned against me.”
The controversial segment took place during a period when Hawkes was experiencing significant chart success with his hit single “The One and Only”.
Speaking out in light of recent events, Hawkes emphasised the importance of understanding how such criticism affects young performers’ mental health.
“How does this happen? They were all old enough to know better,” he questioned.
The singer described having to suppress the emotional impact at the time: “I kind of had to push it down and tighten the lid on it and had to think it was just water off a duck’s back.”
“I just thought I would write a few songs and carry on but it is not until later on that I thought it was proper s**t and it is not acceptable to do that,” he added.
Hawkes stressed that such treatment of young stars continues to be problematic: “It is not responsible and it keeps happening.”
The former teen idol credits his wife Kristina for helping him maintain his mental wellbeing, saying: “I did turn out as a balanced adult and I do think that is because of my wife.”
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Now making a comeback, Hawkes has released a provocative new music video for his single “Get A Hold of Yourself”, in which he appears completely nude.
Schofield fell from grace in May 2023 after it was revealed he had pursued an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.
Following the revelations, the 62-year-old left his role as co-host of ITV flagship programs This Morning and Dancing on Ice which he hosted with Holly Willoughby.
Recently, the presenter buried his beloved mother with the support if his wife and children.