Chesney Hawkes takes brutal swipe at Philip Schofield after 'awful' night scarred him

The old adage that revenge is a dish best served cold certainly rings true for former pop sensation Chesney Hawkes, who has waited 33 years to strike back.

After decades in the musical wilderness, the normally mild-mannered singer has finally unleashed his anger on those who mocked him following his chart-topping success in 1991 with his hit single, The One and Only. Chesney, now 53, was just a teenager when his divisive track catapulted him to overnight stardom, leaving him vulnerable to criticism from the likes of disgraced This Morning host Phillip Schofield and ex-Good Morning Britain anchor Piers Morgan.

As he prepares to launch a chart comeback with his first new album in 10 years, Chesney has not forgotten those who ridiculed him for not "fitting in" during the 1990s, an era dominated by grunge bands like Nirvana.

Speaking out against his detractors for the first time in years, Chesney recalls: "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."

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The awards ceremony in question was the 1991 Smash Hits' Poll Winners' Party. "At first, Phillip was one of the first people who was very nice to me," Chesney said.

"We did all the TV shows like Live and Kicking in those days and the Radio 1 roadshows. And suddenly they turned against me.", reports the Mirror.

"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."

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Today, in the light of the Liam Payne tragedy, Chesney underlines the importance of men's mental health and insists it's crucial for critics to understand the potential long-term impact their actions can have on child stars.

Chesney, who found fame in his teenage years, says: "How does this happen? They were all old enough to know better.

"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 s**t and it is not acceptable to do that.

"It is not responsible and it keeps happening. 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."

This week, Chesney has spoken out after joining forces with '90s comedian Richard Herring to record an episode of Herring's podcast, which is due to be released early next year.

Chesney is making waves again, not just with his music but with his willingness to bare all in his latest video for the single 'Get A Hold of Yourself'. In an edgy nod to Gen Z favourite 'Saltburn', Chesney opted to film the entire video naked just like actor Barry Keoghan did in the movie, despite advice from his team to keep covered.

Opening up about the experience, Chesney explained, "We filmed the video at Arley Hall in Cheshire, the huge country mansion where they film Peaky Blinders. Most of the time I was swinging in the wind and completely naked."

His stripped-down approach wasn't without surprises, though: "There was a moment I was dancing naked and the house has these big windows. The house is open to the public and I looked over during the shoot and there was a young girl outside pushing a pram," laughs Chesney. "I was like 'Can we close the curtains?'

"There was also a lady who was in charge of the house who was like our liaison and she kept coming up asking 'Does anyone want a cup of tea?!'"

Chesney posed nude in a bold statement to prove to his critics that he is not going to live in fear of what anyone thinks of him anymore. He admits: "I did lean into getting nude. I wanted to raise some eyebrows and it was influenced by the end of Saltburn. The song, Get A Hold of Yourself, is about freedom of expression and being in your 50s and feeling a sort of freedom which I probably did not have in the early days.

"Like my song The One and Only, it is a self-empowerment song which helps keep your mental health in check."

Chesney was supported by his wife Kristina and their three children - sons Casey, 23, Indiana, 18, and daughter Jesse, 21, - during the filming of his music video, but admits they were somewhat bemused at seeing their father in the nude onscreen. "I just wanted to do something bold, brave and liberating. My wife was supportive," Chesney explains.

"My team thought I was mad and said 'You are 50 with a dad bod'. I went back to them and said I had to do it. I got my kit off. It was liberating.

"There is a nod to Saltburn in the video, the movie Risky Business, Calendar Girls and The Fully Monty. I think we can have fun in our 50s. Our kids don't have to like it, in fact my kids did say 'Did you have to shake your ass?'"

Despite any initial embarrassment, Chesney credits his family for the motivation behind his new album Living Arrows, his first in over 10 years, set to release at the end of next February.

The album features tracks inspired by his children, including the second single Live Forever, released this week, written by Nik Kershaw and Jake Gosling, known for their work with Ed Sheeran and One Direction. Chesney has been dedicated to his latest project, proudly stating: "My latest song is on the A list on Radio 2. I have really pushed with this new album. This record does have some kind of energy behind it."

"I had my kids in mind the whole time because the messages on songs like Live Forever are to do with taking life by the horns, doing what you love and following your instincts. You have to let them do their own things and make their own mistakes."

Today, Chesney reveals his excitement about returning to live performances across the UK next year - a stark contrast to the gloomy days of the Nineties when he couldn't bear to perform his much-criticised hit, The One and Only, ever again.

He shares: "I have to say that during from 1993 until 1994 I refused to play The One and Only. In the mid '90s it was all Brit pop and I just wanted to be Radiohead. I very much rebelled against the pop roots I came from. As a kid, the pop thing was not what I wanted to do.

"The One and Only was like an albatross, also the title did not help me. I did rebel against it for like 10 years. Sometimes I did not want to go out and play under my own name.

"I did not play again really until I was asked to play at some universities. I did not think anybody knew who I was but the love was just there with people with my face on their T shirts. It was like a student anthem at that time and I went on to do 10 years of those university gigs."

Helping to keep him grounded is his American wife Kristina, whom Chesney married back in 1997.

Chesney heaps praise on his wife for her unwavering support, saying: "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."

The singer also acknowledges the musical influence of his family and the guidance from his father Chip Hawkes, the former bassist for The Tremeloes: "You see, I grew up in a very rock and roll household. My dad was in The Tremeloes. We as children were never going to be accountants as we used to wake up and had to step over sleeping musicians," he reminisces fondly.

"It was wild growing up and dad used to take us all to gigs and we would be peaking through the wings. We used to see knickers being thrown on stage. Today, I get boxer shorts thrown at me. In the early days I used to get knickers."

Now at peace with his history, Chesney reveals he's not quite done yet, hinting at a new goal - penning his memoir.

There's talk that the singer is nearing the completion of an autobiography that promises to dish all on his rise to fame with the hit that has ostensibly earned him a fortune in royalties over the years.

Chesney has spoken candidly about the realities of the music industry and his experiences, revealing potential memoir titles and dispelling financial myths: "I always say my autobiography should be called Fame, No Fortune as that is that is what it is like in the music business. But of course it will have to be called The One and Only.

"There is talk I made £8 million but that is utter b*llocks. I did make good money for sure but my wife would kill me if she knew I had made £8 million and spunked it all."

Chesney jokes: "Nik Kershaw, who wrote the song, got a couple of houses out of it. But today, it has now been nearly 34 years since that song. I am not earning a living from it.

"Listen, it is a self-empowerment song and that is why it has had longevity. The life of a song like that has really nothing to do with you. It is a very beautiful thing actually.

"Looking back I would not change a thing as life is an incredible journey and we are not here for that long are we? The Only and Only was only like six months of my life. I am happy being me and I would not change anything. Today, I am humbled I can still fling a guitar on my back and still make a living."

The Mirror contacted Phillip Schofield for comment.