Phillip Schofield ‘s lover was spotted on stage with the presenter at the National Television Awards after the show won at the annual ceremony.

The presenter, 61, took to the stage with his This Morning colleagues including Holly Willoughby and the young runner back in 2018.

As they accepted their award, Phillip could be seen looking over his shoulder in the direction of the runner as Holly made her speech.

On Friday the former This Morning star admitted he’d had an affair with a younger colleague on the show, which he says was not ‘illegal, but unwise’ and quit ITV. Phil has apologized to his family, ITV and his agency for the betrayal.

It has been claimed having junior staff on stage, such as a runner, to accept an award was virtually unheard of.

Spots on stage are said to only usually be reserved for on-screen talent and senior producers.

A source has said the young runner’s position on the NTA stage raised questions at the time.

“He was on stage at the NTAs. Usually that’s something that only the presenters and most senior execs get to do,” a former ITV Daytime production member told The Sun.

“Most crew are either at the back of the arena or even watching the ceremony at another bar. It was all very odd.”

The TV presenter – who quit his 21-year run on the ITV1 programme earlier this month – said the relationship with the runner happened while he was still married to Stephanie Lowe – with whom he shares two daughters.

Phillip apologized for lying to his friends, family, and lawyers and said the former colleague was “never moved on or sacked by or because of me”.

Phillip has been scrutinized for weeks amid rumours there were behind-the-scenes rifts between him and co-star Holly Willoughby.

After denying a feud in a statement, which was said to have “blindsided” Holly and ITV, he stepped down from his role on the popular programme.

Phillip then admitted he had a secret relationship with an ITV production assistant that he kept hidden from his wife Steph, Holly and ITV bosses for years.

He admitted in a statement he had a “consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague” who he had met when he was a teenager and wanted to get into television.

“It was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship,” Philip added.

“That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.”