Chesney Hawkes has hit back at digs made by Phillip Schofield 33 years ago.
The star, 53, finally clapped back at the likes of former This Morning presenter Phillip – who recently bared all in a television comeback on Channel 5 – after he made a series of savage swipes about Chesney at the peak of his career. Singer Chesney admitted that after decades of insults, it was time for him to set the record straight – and has joined the likes of Eamonn Holmes in slamming Schofe.
In 1991, Chesney had been dominating the charts with his biggest hit, The One and Only - which had millions of record sales at the time. But the singer was not without his critics, with the likes of Piers Morgan and Phillip Schofield calling him out for his musical style.
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Speaking to The Mirror, Chesney admitted that having shot to fame at such a young age, he was not properly prepared for both the highs and lows that came with it. Aged just 19 at the time, the star had a bright but brief moment in the spotlight, before becoming a one-hit wonder following the drop in interest with his other musical ventures.
But more than three decades on, Chesney is hoping to make a comeback, as he releases his first album in 10 years. And with the singer gearing up for the release, he admitted he has not forgotten who criticised him for not "fitting in" with the music of the time.
In particular, Chesney gunned at disgraced presenter Phillip, 62, after he had an "awful" night with the host. Recalling the night, Chesney said: "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," he added, confessing that Phillip was at first particularly welcoming to Chesney. "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 awards ceremony in question was the Smash Hits Poll Winner's Party in 1991, where Phillip was the host. During the unsettling segment, the former Cube presenter appeared to push Chesney into Hell with a pitchfork as he joked with the audience - but the star was instead watching the show at home with his parents.
"I remember it well," he admitted. "They had this guy dressed as me in a blond wig with a mole; it was awful."
Nowadays, with the emphasis on men's mental health higher than ever after Liam Payne's tragic death, Chesney said that it is important for critics to learn that actions have consequences. He added that the onus should not be on the star, who has to "push it down and tighten the lid", acting as if they are fine when they are not.
"It is not responsible and it keeps happening," he added. "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."
Chesney added that his way of dealing with the pressure from detractors would be to write more music and carry on. However, he would eventually realise that in fact it is "not acceptable" for critics to go in on young stars like that.
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