Schofield denies 'ambushing' Katona

Philip Schofield has said that questions about Kerry Katona's health were asked on yesterday's This Morning interview because of her erratic behaviour, not in an attempt to "ambush" the star.

Concerned viewers contacted the ITV1 show after Katona's appearance to promote her MTV reality show Whole Again, during which she behaved unusually and slurred her speech.

Schofield told BBC Radio 1 that Katona arrived so late that producers had not been able to assess her condition. He branded whoever brought her to the studio as "irresponsible" and said the interview would have been cancelled had Katona's situation been known.

"The last thing I want to do is to witness a car crash in front of my eyes," he said, adding that Katona was obviously "very, very angry" following the interview and had walked out of the studio.

Questioned by Schofield's co-presenter Fern Britton, Katona blamed prescription drugs for her slurred speech and denied an alcohol addiction. Her husband Mark Croft later posted an online statement which said the only thing Katona had drunk was "cups of tea".

"As a production team, we're a bit sad this morning," Schofield said, adding: "I know that she walked down the corridor and said that we'd ambushed her in the interview.

"At no time were alcohol or drug issues going to be mentioned, because we've done that in the past. She ambushed herself by slurring her words. It's a shame that she feels that way because unfortunately she set herself up, or she was set up by the person who brought her in."

> Click here to watch a video of Katona's appearance