Pressure is mounting on ITV as several former stars question what the network knew about Phillip Schofield's relationship with a younger male colleague. The 61-year-old former This Morning host left the show last week after reports of a rift with co-star Holly Willoughby, and later admitted to an affair with a young male colleague while still married.
Dr Ranj Singh, This Morning's former resident doctor, tweeted on Sunday: "I didn't know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with This Morning go far beyond him. The culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV's values." ITV responded by saying it was "sorry to read Dr Ranj's post" and noted that an external review following a complaint by Dr Ranj found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.
The story began two weeks ago with an apparent feud between Schofield and Willoughby, but has since escalated into a crisis for ITV. The young man involved was a teenager when he first met Schofield at a school talk, and later secured a job at ITV. Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries questioned the safeguarding processes in place for such a young employee.
ITV has stated that the affair was "categorically denied" by both parties during a 2020 investigation, and no evidence beyond "hearsay and rumour" was found. However, former ITV stars Dan Wootton and Eamonn Holmes maintain that network bosses have questions to answer about what they knew and when.
Holly Willoughby is reportedly hurt by Schofield's lies but has no immediate plans to leave This Morning. She is due to return on 5 June, but the ongoing drama may make it difficult for her to present the programme as normal. The scandal has also raised broader questions about the working environment on the show and the safeguards for young employees in the media industry.
