Phillip Schofield has hit back at Kerry Katona's husband

24 Oct 2008 

Saying he should not have let her on the show. Kerry and hubby Mark Croft were left fuming after Phil and co-host Fern Britton questioned her about her slurred speech  during an interview on This Morning which was supposed to be about her cosmetic surgery.

Fern even asked her if she had a problem with alcohol, which Kerry strongly denied, insisting it was just a side effect of her medication. Afterwards scores of people slammed the show, saying they shouldn't have let her appear in such a state. And Mark demanded the pair read out a statement by him in full, saying that they were "totally unreasonable".  But Phil has defended the show's actions - and said if anyone should have stopped her it was Mark.

After reading out the statement he said: "What I would have to say is that if you are concerned about your wife as he obviously is concerned about his wife and you are the person who has accompanied her in a car to  bring her into a television studio and you notice that that particular morning her medication or whatever is having an effect on her speech, surely you shouldn't bring her into a TV studio."

Phil added that because Kerry turned up late to the interview, neither he nor Fern got a chance to talk to her before they went live.

He said: "There are a number of things I'd like to clear up here now. A number of people have said well she should never have been on in the first place, that we were irresponsible to put Kerry on the telly. I do want to point out that Kerry arrived and as we said right at the very beginning of the programme my goodness you've only just arrived, you were late, that she arrived, she had a bit of powder".

"We were told that under no circumstances should we discuss her financial problems otherwise she'd walk off the programme and that was the only instruction we had. And then she walked into the studio, she sat down, we both kissed her on the cheek and ran across to open the programme. So that's how close it was. Had we known the condition that we felt that she might be in, our producer would certainly not have allowed her to open the programme".

"We'd have put something else at the top of the programme and then we would have ascertained what the issue might be and may be put her on a little bit later. And so the reason that she was on at the top and the reason that she was allowed on to television slurring her speech, and there's no doubt that she was slurring for whatever reasons, was the fact that she'd arrived late and we hadn't been able to find out how she was."

He added: "Once something happens live on television it is difficult to dispute that there is a problem, whatever that problem might be, there is a problem. And it's my very personal view, in my mind she shouldn't be paraded on television she should be taken home and loved up and cared for."

Phil then read out the statement from Mark which said: "Kerry and I are incredibly upset about the negative news stories that have surrounded her appearance on This Morning yesterday, in particular the accusations that she was drunk or had been drinking alcohol that morning. For the record, Kerry had not been drinking anything other than tea before the show.

"Kerry has always been honest about her bipolar depression for which she receives ongoing medical attention and takes prescription drugs daily. the treatment that she is on has side effects which include difficulty speaking and drowsiness. Kerry did attempt to explain this to Phil and Fern and is extremely offended that they continued to question her further despite seeing her obvious distress at their ongoing line of questioning."

"We feel that forcing Kerry to explain her drinking on a recent holiday was totally unreasonable and she has also and always considered herself a friend of the show and appeared in good faith to talk about how positive she is feeling about her appearance.  Kerry left the show feeling very upset about her treatment by Fern and Phil".

"Kerry appreciated and understands the concern that have arisen form her appearance but would like to reassure everyone that this was due to side effects of her medication. We hope that this ends the ongoing speculation about her health."

Talking to This Morning viewers Phil said: "We had hundreds of emails with your concerns and sadly once again Kerry finds herself making the headlines today for all the wrong reasons.  When we invited her on we had no idea that I would need to ask her this: 'If I'm honest now you don't seem right to me sitting here now. You're speech is a bit slurred. How are you feeling now'?" 

Fern added: "We're very fond of Kerry and have been for a very long time and I know that you are all very fond of her as well. We were as concerned as you. Hundreds of you emailed in with your concerns as well.  I must make it clear first of all she did keep saying it was her medication".

"What we asked her was in good faith.  That's not what we're trying to suggest, that she's been mixing alcohol and drugs but it's unfortunate that a girl who was always so bright and bubbly gave us all cause for concern."

Addressing Kerry, Fern said: "Kerry if you happen to be watching this morning, and Mark, our intention was never to get you upset or angry with us. We are just concerned and it is this level of concern. We're very concerned for you because you're bubbly, you're funny, you're beautiful, you're quick witted, all of those things and we can't bear to see you not looking the Kerry we know and that's all I'm going to say on that subject so take care of yourself."