Aubergine feedback by This Morning editor ‘extremely ill-judged’, says ITV boss
T
his Morning’s editor made “extremely ill-judged” feedback when he was confronted about allegations of a “toxic” work surroundings on the programme, an ITV boss informed MPs on Tuesday.
Martin Frizell, who has produced the morning present for almost seven years, launched into some weird feedback about aubergines when he was confronted by journalists over the fallout from the Phillip Schofield scandal this week.
He was approached by Sky News forward of presenter Holly Willoughby’s return to the programme following the furore over Schofield’s departure after he admitted having an affair with a much younger colleague.
During a listening to of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, ITV’s group director of technique Magnus Brooke, was questioned in regards to the scandal.
MP John Nicolson known as Mr Frizell’s remarks “outrageously dismissive and flippant on camera about an immensely serious issue”.
Asked if there’s a “toxic” work surroundings on the present, Mr Frizell had informed journalists: “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.”
Mr Brooke informed MPs: “I wouldn’t endorse what he said.”
He added that the feedback had been “bizarre” and it was “extremely ill-judged to say what he did”.
“I can reassure you on behalf of ITV that we do take all of these allegations very seriously precisely because we do have a culture where people’s conduct matters enormously,” he added.
In her first on-screen look since Schofield’s departure, Willoughby informed viewers: “Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil.”
In the committee listening to, Mr Nicolson stated: “I spent some time at the weekend talking to whistleblowers from ITV, including people who work and have worked at This Morning. It seems like a very unhappy place.
“Are you satisfied with the duty of care that the editorial team and senior managers provide to staff, especially young staff working there and at ITV more generally?”
Mr Brooke stated: “I think there is a very sophisticated and significant system of safeguarding and duty of care at ITV.”
Addressing the bullying allegations made by workers, Mr Brooke stated: “We take our responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and duty of care very seriously.
“Bullying is absolutely in breach of our code of conduct, it’s very clearly set out.”
He added: “Bullying is unacceptable. If we find bullying it’s inconsistent with our policy and we expect people to report it and and we would expect it to be dealt with appropriately and it will be.”
Ex-This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes and former resident physician Dr Ranj Singh have each made allegations of a “toxic” tradition behind the scenes at This Morning.
The latter stated he raised considerations about “bullying and discrimination” two years in the past when he labored there.
Committee chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage earlier stated she was “worried” in regards to the presenter after he spoke about how his psychological well being had been affected by the This Morning saga.
She informed Sky News: “I think this case has been incredibly sad and two careers have been devastated by this case, two lives have been really severely impacted and not to mention their families and loved ones.”