ITV chief to be hauled earlier than committee of MPs over Phillip Schofield affair row

ITV’s chief government has been requested to attend a grilling by MPs amid the saga over Phillip Schofield’s exit from This Morning.

Dame Carolyn McCall has been invited to seem earlier than cross-party MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on June 14 to reply questions concerning the broadcaster’s strategy to safeguarding and grievance dealing with.

It comes as questions proceed to be requested following Schofield’s resignation from ITV.

The 61-year-old introduced he was stepping down from This Morning on May 20 following intense hypothesis concerning the state of his relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby.

After leaving the present, he admitted to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a a lot youthful male colleague and stop ITV on May 26.

The relationship came about whereas the TV star was nonetheless married to spouse Stephanie Lowe and earlier than he got here out publicly as homosexual.

Schofield was dropped by his expertise company YMU on the identical day.

Amid questions over what ITV bosses knew, the broadcaster insisted it was “not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour” when it appeared into the matter in 2020.

The channel yesterday instructed a barrister to hold out an exterior overview of the info following his departure and subsequent press statements, in response to a letter from chief government Dame Carolyn McCall.

It comes after Eamonn Holmes, who beforehand introduced This Morning on Fridays with spouse Ruth Langsford, alleged there was a “total cover-up” on This Morning over Schofield’s affair.

He advised GB News: “Those in authority had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge a bullet with this, which they do, and they do constantly, because with Schofield talking about those who speak out against him, namely me, Amanda Holden and you (Dan Wootton), you’ll be included in the toxicity that goes on. Dr Ranj, of course, as well.

“And you merely sit there and assume, ‘No, mate. You’ve had it all of your means for too lengthy’.”