Chesney Hawkes brands exiled presenter Phillip Schofield a ‘b*****d’ for playing a brutal joke at his expense on live TV – and says finding fame at a young age ruined his mental health

Chesney Hawks has taken a swipe at Philip Schofield, branding him a ‘b*****d’ after a brutal joke left the singer scarred. 

The star, 53, dominated the charts in 1991 with his hit single The One And Only and while he was enjoying riding the wave of fame, others in the industry were intent on knocking him down. 

The musician told the Mirror how he was only a teenager when he was unexpectedly thrown into the spotlight. 

And, while there were some perks, Chesney revealed he found it difficult, especially after the former This Morning presenter turned on him. 

He described how the star had at first been very supportive before making a cruel joke at his expense on live TV. 

He said: ‘At first, Phillip was one of the first people who was very nice to me.

Chesney Hawks has taken a swipe at Philip Schofield, branding him a ‘b*****d’ after a brutal joke left the singer scarred

The singer explained that in 1991 at the Smash Hits’ Poll Winners’ Party, Philip starred in a comedy skit where he pushed Chesney into a fiery pit with a pitchfork

The star, 53, dominated the charts in 1991 with his hit single The One And Only and while he was enjoying riding the wave of fame, others in the industry were intent on knocking him down

‘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 incident came in 1991 at the Smash Hits’ Poll Winners’ Party where Philip starred in a comedy skit where he pushed Chesney into a fiery pit with a pitchfork.

He said: ‘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.

‘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. They had this guy dressed as me in a blonde wig with a mole. It was awful.’

And it wasn’t just the former morning show host who criticised him but the former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan too who lashed out at his catchy tune that rattled the music scene.

Chesney’s single stayed at the top of the charts for five consecutive weeks at a time when grunge was taking over 

And seemingly not everyone was pleased for Chesney’s success but he made sure to get his own back.

He told the publication: ‘Piers Morgan also had a go at me during that time but my dad once poured a pint of lager over him at the Ivor Novello awards in London in 1992.’  

Of the incident, Chesney said: ‘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.

The singer seems more comfortable in his own skin more than ever and recently shot the video for his comeback single Get A Hold of Yourself

The single will be his first in ten years and he shot the music video completely in the nude, paying homage to Emerald Fennel’s instant classic Saltburn

The singer has said it’s an experience that profoundly affected him and for a long time he tried to hide his feelings but is now opening up about his experience in the music industry

But the singer has said it’s an experience that profoundly affected him. 

He said: ‘I think those moments, they were really difficult. 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 sh*t and it is not acceptable to do that.’ 

And Chesney isn’t just opening up about his younger years. 

The singer seems more comfortable in his own skin more than ever and recently shot the video for his comeback single Get A Hold of Yourself  – his first new music since his first single was released 33 years ago – completely in the nude, paying homage to Emerald Fennel’s instant classic Saltburn.

The father-of-three Chesney ignored his manager’s advice to keep his clothes on and thoroughly enjoyed mimicking actor Barry Keoghan’s famous nude dancing scene at the end of the film.

Chesney told the publication that he filmed his new music video in Arley Hall in Cheshire – the same location used for Peaky Blinders. 

And while he generally enjoyed the freeing nudity scenes, he did recall a moment when a visitor to the grand house spied him naked through a window which led him to sheepishly ask if the curtains could be closed while filming, 

The father-of-three Chesney ignored his manager’s advice to keep his clothes on and thoroughly enjoyed mimicking actor Barry Keoghan’s famous nude dancing scene at the end of the film

Chesney posed nude as a way of telling his critics that he would no longer be shaped by their opinions of him as he explained his latest song is about freedom of expression and feeling more comfortable in yourself as you get older

Chesney posed nude as a way of telling his critics that he would no longer be shaped by their opinions of him as he explained his latest song is about freedom of expression and feeling more comfortable in yourself as you get older. 

He added: ‘Like my song The One and Only, it is a self-empowerment song which helps keep your mental health in check.’

Chesney was pleased that his wife Kristina and his three children – sons Casey, 23, Indiana, 18, and daughter Jesse, 21, were supportive of his decision but added that they were surprised to see their father nude.

But the star said he didn’t mind and wanted to feel liberated and push himself outside his comfort zone.  

Despite their embarrassment, Chesney has his family to thank for his new forthcoming album Living Arrows – his first release in over a decade.

The album will be released at the end of February and is full of songs inspired by his children.

And Chesney is already chomping at the bit and wants ot get back onstage after decades of anxiety about performing under his own name. 

He explained that after the release of his first single, his career was blighted by the song, which he described as ‘an albatross’. 

Chesney previosuly struggled to face an audience after his smash hit was met with such trolling but he is now ready to tackle a tour and throughout it all he has had the support of his wife Kristina, who he married in 1997 (pictured)

But unlike the 1990s, when Chesney struggled to even face an audience, he is now ready to tackle a tour. 

And throughout it all he has had the support of his wife Kristina, who he married in 1997.

Praising her Chesney said: ‘I did turn out as a balanced adult and I do think that is because of my wife. We met at the right time. I was 22 when I met her at the end of all the craziness. We fell in love and she did not know who I was.

‘When I met her it was exactly the right time for me. She gave me something else to live for. I did get into drugs and stuff like that and alcohol and I did try to shield it all so when she came it took me out of it. If it was not for her it would have been a different road.’

Despite his experiences, the singer said he wouldn’t change any of his experiences and said he has found his time in the music industry humbling, adding: ‘I can still fling a guitar on my back and still make a living.”