An external review into ITV's flagship daytime show This Morning has been published.
The investigation was launched following the scandal surrounding long-serving presenter Phillip Schofield. Phillip, 61, left This Morning following a string of reports and speculation of a feud between himself and co-host Holly Willoughby. Days later, he quit ITV altogether as he admitted he had an 'unwise but not illegal' affair with a younger colleague.
The fallen TV star also admitted to lying about the relationship to his wife, agent and viewers – as well as This Morning colleagues, too. Following the scandal, which broke in May this year, ITV instructed a lawyer to look into how the affair and Phil's exit was handled.
ITV instructed Jane Mulcahy KC to carry out an external review in May – a week after Phillip's admission. The findings say ITV made "considerable efforts" to find out the truth about an alleged relationship between Phillip Schofield and a runner on This Morning in 2019 but was "unable to uncover the relevant evidence" until Schofield’s admission in late May 2023.
Phillip Schofield admitted to an 'unwise but not illegal affair' with an ITV colleague (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The This Morning star quit his ITV job immediately after the admission (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)The report from the external review reveals that Phillip "reluctantly declined" to take part in an interview with Jane Mulcahy KC due to his health. The report states: "A letter from PS’s solicitor, Jonathan Coad at Coad Law, dated 4 August 2023, stated that PS [Phillip Schofield] “reluctantly decline[d]” my invitation to participate in the Review because of the risk to his health. I am informed that PS’s mental health has since deteriorated." The unnamed person Phillip had the affair with also declined to take part.
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The report also adds that the unnamed runner's promotion from This Morning to Loose Women "had nothing to do" with Phillip, Mulcahy found. The report also states that "only one person" interviewed by Mulcahy had knowledge of the affair – and are said to have found out in 2021 – but "did not report their knowledge at time".
It also states that those who had suspicions in 2017 "did not report" them, the rest of the 48 people interviewed were not aware of the affair before May. It read: "Only one person to whom I spoke had any knowledge of an affair between PS and PX [unnamed person Phil had affair with] prior to May 2023 (they became aware in 2021) and that former junior employee did not report their knowledge at the time.
"Nor did others report suspicions from much earlier in 2017." The report did not name the talent or ITV colleagues which were interviewed for the inquiry.
In her findings, Mulcahy KC states: "In relation to ITV’s approach to HR complaints and concerns in TM/Daytime, Iconsidered nine complaints since 2016 and eight diverse concerns articulated inresponse to the fact of this Review."
She adds: As a result, I find that ITV seeks – and succeeds in large part – in applying itspolicies and procedures appropriately to issues which are raised. ITV’sDisciplinary, Grievance and Freelance Complaints procedures also seem fit forpurpose and to work well in practice. But, again, the complaints and disciplinaryprocesses would function much more successfully if people were more confidentto air their concerns in the first place."
Mulcahy also suggests that "in response to issues raised by contributors to Daytime’s shows" that a "more open, direct and straightforward communication with freelance talent is desirable to ease working relationships going forward".
The report lists a series of considerations for ITV including: "Making increased efforts to ensure that TM/Daytime embraces its “SpeakingUp” policy at every level." And advises: "Managers should ensure that all staff know there is a safe space to complain or raise concerns".
The broadcaster's chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall revealed earlier this year ITV had looked into rumours an affair between Phillip and an unnamed colleague had started in late 2019, but those involved denied the claims and continued to as recently as the same month as Phil's admission.
Meanwhile, Phillip's lawyer said in June he would "expect Phillip fully to co-operate with any formal enquiry", but that he had not been approached yet.
Also in June, ITV boss Magnus Brooke was questioned by MPs at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee about "unhappy" staff at This Morning and claims of "bullying" at the daytime show. During the hearing, Brooke admitted that comments by Martin Frizell were “extremely ill-judged” after the This Morning editor referred to aubergines when asked about allegations of a “toxic” work environment on the programme.
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Frizell was approached by Sky News ahead of presenter Holly Willoughby’s return to This Morning following the furore over Phillip Schofield’s departure from ITV after he admitted having an affair with a younger colleague.
Asked if there is a “toxic” work environment on the show, the editor replied: "I’ll tell you what’s toxic, and I’ve always found it toxic – aubergine. Do you like aubergine? Do you? Do you like aubergine, because I don’t like aubergine. It’s just a personal thing."
Meanwhile, another probe – this time an internal one – was reportedly launched last month after it was claimed one of the show's producers has reportedly been accused of having an affair with a contestant during the filming of a spin-off in Barbados.
The holiday dating segment pilot, which was fronted by A Place In The Sun host Laura Hamilton, saw the senior staff member reportedly having a fling with a contestant during their time in the Caribbean. Although the producer has since resigned, the incident is said to have proven somewhat of an embarrassment for the broadcaster, who promised transparency in the wake of Schofield's departure.
A spokesperson for ITV told the Mirror last month: "We are unable to comment on the details of any specific employment-related matters. ITV sets out and upholds very clear policies with regards to raising concerns and work-related conduct amongst our people."
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