Phillip Schofield has hit again at critics in his first assertion after admitting having an affair with a a lot youthful colleague on This Morning.
Less than half an hour earlier than the programme was because of air on Monday, the 61-year-old posted an announcement to his 2.9 million followers on Instagram.
It learn: “Now I no longer work on @thismorning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.
“This morning IS one of the best present to work on, with one of the best folks. In all of the years I labored there there was no toxicity. You can hearken to these persistently loud voices when you like.
“But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know, it IS a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard working people.”
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, who’ve offered the present since Schofield stepped down on 20 May, mentioned quickly after it began that “we know we happen to be in the news at the moment”.
“Of course we appreciate that,” O’Leary mentioned forward of their newspaper evaluation. “But from us and everyone here… the people downstairs, we want to say that we love making this show”.
Hammond added: “We really do. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Gyles Brandreth, who was reviewing the papers, additionally provided his assist, saying: “This is a happy place to work. I enjoy coming here.”
It comes after former This Morning physician Ranj Singh, launched a prolonged assertion in regards to the “toxic culture” on the present, claiming the “issues” with it “go far beyond him [Schofield]”.
Schofield’s former colleague Eamonn Holmes mentioned in his response to the controversy that he had “finally been caught out”.
“He’s not the only guilty party. 4 high members of ITV management knew what sort of man he was,” he mentioned on Twitter.
ITV have mentioned they investigated “rumours of a relationship” between the host and a manufacturing assistant on the present in 2020 however that each events denied it.
In response to Dr Ranj’s claims they mentioned his formal criticism was investigated however discovered “no evidence of bullying or discrimination”.
First present since affair admission
Hammond and O’Leary are presenting the ITV daytime present at present, having paid a brief 30-second tribute to him on Friday – a day earlier than he revealed he had stop the programme over an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a manufacturing assistant on the present.
Originally on 20 May, he had mentioned he was quitting because the programme had “become the story” following experiences of a feud between him and his co-host Holly Willoughby. His brother Timothy Schofield had additionally been jailed for 12 years over little one intercourse offences.
Willoughby, 41, is because of return subsequent Monday (5 June), having taken an early half-term vacation on 22 May.
She has mentioned that “when reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not”.
“It’s been very hurtful to now find out this was a lie,” her Instagram assertion added.
Read extra:
ITV responds to rumours round present’s future
Why Schofield’s admission may kill off his profession
Replacement presenters introduced after Schofield exit
Schofield has now utterly resigned from ITV and been dropped by his brokers.
His assertion to the Daily Mail additionally admitted mendacity in regards to the affair, whereas nonetheless married to his spouse Stephanie Lowe, to ITV, his brokers and the media.
The controversy across the affair has raised doubts about each Willoughby’s and the present’s future.
ITV has denied any experiences its flagship programme could possibly be axed.
Source: information.sky.com”