ITV has mentioned it investigated “rumours of a relationship” between Phillip Schofield and a youthful worker – however the pair “repeatedly denied” the affair.
The assertion got here after questions have been raised over what community bosses knew concerning the conduct of the veteran broadcaster.
Fellow former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes had mentioned Schofield was “not the only guilty party” and claimed prime administration “knew what sort of man he was”.
Holmes spoke out after veteran broadcaster Schofield admitted having an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a a lot youthful male ITV worker whereas he was nonetheless married.
He additionally give up the broadcaster on Friday.
Schofield’s confession to the connection, and that he had lied about it, got here in an announcement revealed within the Daily Mail shortly earlier than his brokers, YMU, additionally revealed they have been parting firm with him with quick impact.
In response to mounting strain on the broadcaster, an ITV spokesperson mentioned: “Further to our assertion final night time, ITV can affirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an worker of ITV first started to flow into in early 2020 ITV investigated.
“Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.
“In addition, ITV spoke to quite a lot of individuals who labored on This Morning and weren’t supplied with, and didn’t discover, any proof of a relationship past rumour and hearsay.
“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”
Previously writing on Twitter, Holmes mentioned: “Schofield has finally been caught out… But he’s not the only guilty party. 4 high members of ITV management knew what sort of man he was.”
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In one other publish, Holmes referred to how Schofield apparently lied to him and his spouse, presenter Ruth Langsford.
He added: “Ruth and I deceived and lied to. One day I will tell the story. We had no issue with him being gay, only support.
“What transpired took us for fools. The man informed us full lies and we sadly believed him.”
Separately, BBC presenter and former ITV newscaster Andrea Catherwood tweeted: “Much more questions on who knew what when at ITV to be answered after this…”
‘It is now over’
Former This Morning star Schofield, 61, left the daytime show last week.
In a statement on Friday, Schofield said he was “deeply sorry” for lying about the relationship.
He said: “I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a youthful male colleague at This Morning.
“Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.
“That relationship was unwise, however not unlawful. It is now over.”
It is understood the younger colleague, who is not a public figure, did not want the relationship to be made public.
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Statements from presenter and his brokers in full
The affair occurred earlier than Mr Schofield publicly got here out as homosexual in 2020, and whereas he was nonetheless married to his spouse Stephanie Lowe.
In a damning assertion, his former brokers YMU Group mentioned “honesty and integrity” have been core values of their enterprise and that their relationships are “based entirely on trust”.
Schofield’s exit from This Morning got here after weeks of rumours of a rift between him and his co-presenter Holly Willoughby.
Reports of behind-the-scenes issues between the pair surfaced after his brother Tim Schofield was convicted of kid intercourse offences.
Source: information.sky.com”