'We’ll be the first to stand beside you' - Eamonn Holmes supports Phillip Schofield as he comes out

Eamonn Holmes lightened the emotional mood with a couple of jokes as Phillip Schofield came out as gay on This Morning.

The presenter battled tears as he opened up in an emotional interview, saying that with the support of his wife and daughters he had been coming to terms with his sexuality and that it was “the right time” to share his truth.

Read more: Phillip Schofield comes out as gay

Offering his support, fellow This Morning host Holmes told Schofield that everyone on the ITV programme was behind him.

“Phillip, nobody should be embarrassed about their sexuality,” he said.

“It is fantastic that you have spoken out and there will be so many people who will be strengthened by what you said.”

“We’re all here by your side, we’ll be the first to stand beside you,” he added.

Holmes also teased that he had thought Schofield, 57, had been about to announce that he was going to resign from the morning show and that he could then have his job.

He also quipped that he had always wondered about Schofield and their colleague Holly Willoughby - who are close friends - sharing a hot tub.

Read more: Phillip Schofield’s statement in full

He said: “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 (Schofield’s wife) doesn't have a problem and Dan (Willoughby's husband) doesn't have a problem’.”

Schofield, who also posted a long statement on Instagram about his decision, chuckled and explained that Willoughby was the sister he had never had.