A REVIEW into ITV's handling of the Phillip Schofield scandal is likely to be delayed until later this year.
The broadcaster had originally planned to publish the findings from the external probe this month following the presenter's "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger colleague.
But its publication is now likely to come later this year instead to ensure it is "thorough and robust".
Chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said in a letter seen by The Sun Online: "When we announced the review, we made clear that the KC will have as much time and resource as is necessary to conduct this review and that we anticipated a report by the end of September.
"We also said that she would dictate the timeline to conduct the review and prepare the findings in order to ensure that it is thorough and robust.
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"Taking the above into account and also the KC’s existing professional engagements, the KC has informed us that she anticipates the review will be complete later this year."
ITV announced in May an external review into its original handling of the Schofield saga had been ordered.
It came after Schofield, 61, confessed he had an affair with a "much younger" runner from This Morning while he was married.
After stepping down from his role on the TV show, allegations of a toxic bullying culture emerged.
Dame Carolyn said a barrister had been drafted in, with the team making "significant progress".
In a letter, she also said the company had been "badly let down" after Schofield's assurances.
The TV presenter admitted he had lied to ITV, Holly Willoughby and his family about the six month affair.
It was recently confirmed his former co-host has been complying with the independent investigation.
In his first interview after the scandal came to light, Philip exclusively told us how he had not had any contact with Holly since the news broke.
He told us: “I’ve lost my best friend. I let her down (Holly). I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down.
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“Holly did not know (about the romance). And she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say, ‘I am so, so sorry that I lied to you’.
“She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply, as well. So yeah. If anyone is in any way linking Holly to this; that is absolutely, wholly untrue.
“I had no feud with Holly. She is my TV sister. But quite rightly, when I am in the middle of a s**t show with bad press over something where I have done nothing wrong — in fact, I did everything right — it’s a witch hunt. And that strips that (friendship) away.
“Quite rightly, she is going to take a step back and think, ‘I have to step back from this’, and I understand that completely.
“As we see now, this is a vicious game and the last thing you want is for something to stick on you.
“It was becoming bigger than the people we had on the show. I understand that.”
