Author Douglas Murray has weighed in on the Phillip Schofield scandal and obsession in the UK calling it “tittle-tattle” and likening it to a distracting magician who wants you to look away from his magic trick.

“Anyone who really wants to know what is going on – watch the hand you’re not meant to watch,” Mr Murray told Sky News host Rita Panahi.

“We’re being encouraged to engage in tittle-tattle about totally insignificant figures.

“The much bigger issues of our day are at risk of just gliding by.”