Phillip Schofield hits again at critics after admitting affair with youthful This Morning colleague
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 resulting from air on Monday, he posted a press release 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 the most effective present to work on, with the most effective folks. In all of the years I labored there there was no toxicity. You can take heed to these persistently loud voices in case 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 are presenting the ITV daytime present at present, having paid a brief 30-second tribute to him on Friday – earlier than he admitted the affair.
Holly Willoughby, Schofield’s former co-host, is because of return subsequent Monday (5 June), having taken an early half-term vacation on 22 May.
Schofield announced his departure on 20 May after twenty years on the present, and 6 days later admitted to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a a lot youthful colleague.
He has now utterly resigned from ITV and been dropped by his agents.
His assertion to the Daily Mail additionally admitted mendacity in regards to the affair to ITV, his brokers and the media.
ITV stated they investigated “rumours of a relationship” between the host and the manufacturing assistant in 2020 however that each events denied it.
Willoughby has additionally stated 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 around show’s future
Why Schofield’s admission could kill off his career
Replacement presenters announced after Schofield exit
The controversy round Schofield’s affair and the associated ‘feud’ between him and Willoughby has raised doubts about each her and the present’s future.
ITV has denied any reports its flagship programme might be axed.
This weekend, former This Morning doctor Ranj Singh, launched a prolonged assertion in regards to the “toxic culture” on the present.
It claimed the “issues with This Morning go far beyond him [Schofield]”.
An ITV spokesperson has since informed Sky News {that a} formal criticism made by Dr Ranj was investigated however discovered “no evidence of bullying or discrimination”.