Phillip Schofield ‘declined’ to participate in overview of ITV due to ‘threat to well being’

Phillip Schofield “reluctantly declined” to take part in an exterior overview following his departure from ITV due to the “risk to his health”.

The presenter give up This Morning – which he had hosted for greater than 20 years – after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a youthful male colleague, who additionally refused to take part within the overview.

Schofield admitted lying about the affair and was dropped by his expertise company, YMU.

Of 48 folks interviewed by Jane Mulcahy KC, who led the overview, just one reported any data of the affair – a former junior member of workers, the barrister stated.

They didn’t report their data on the time, Ms Mulcahy added, and “nor did others report suspicions from much earlier in 2017”.

Many junior staff “remain convinced that to speak out will have a detrimental impact on their careers”, Ms Mulcahy stated.

That is regardless of her having “no doubt” that senior ITV administration are “absolutely wedded to the importance of an open culture”.

However, that tradition is “not filtering down to junior employees”, Ms Mulcahy stated.

In future, she is recommending that ITV set out clear pointers to make sure good behaviour “even by those who are household names”.

ITV’s administration “made considerable efforts to determine the truth” in regards to the affair, the overview discovered.

But within the “face of the denials of the individuals involved, ITV was unable to uncover the relevant evidence”, it added.

Ms Mulcahy stated it was “clear” that Phillip Schofield’s “patronage” assisted his youthful colleague within the “early days of his time at ITV”.

Beyond that, nonetheless, he appeared to have “made his way on his own”.

Read extra:
Timeline of ITV departure after colleague affair
Schofield’s statement as he stepped down – and Holly’s response
Presenter dropped as ambassador for The Prince’s Trust

In a letter in August, Schofield’s lawyer stated the presenter “reluctantly declined” to take part within the overview due to the “risk to his health”, including that his “mental health has since deteriorated”.

Regarding the younger man with whom Schofield had an affair, a letter from his attorneys stated he “wanted to move on with his life and was not prepared to assist with this review”, Ms Mulcahy stated.

Because it was not a statutory inquiry, the KC had “no power to compel people to cooperate” and all who did so spoke on a voluntarily foundation.

Numerous them had questions or issues about confidentiality, she added.

Those spoken to included folks in senior and junior positions, present and former workers, folks on air and people managing “on-screen talent”.

Ms Mulcahy is now emphasising the “importance of junior employees at ITV having the confidence to raise concerns to management in line with ITV’s ‘Speaking Up’ policy”.

She added: “I have no doubt that senior management are absolutely wedded to the importance of an open culture.

“But this tradition remains to be not filtering right down to junior staff, lots of whom stay satisfied that to talk out may have a detrimental affect on their careers.”

Her report recommends increasing efforts to ensure staff can raise concerns. It also recommends publishing a talent “constitution”, setting out key standards to be upheld.

Andy Cosslett, ITV chairman, said: “We are utterly dedicated to creating an atmosphere the place everyone seems to be handled with respect and feels capable of give of their finest.

“Our promise to those we work with is that where a complaint is made, or serious concerns raised, we will always investigate and if we find that something inappropriate has happened, we will take action.

“We will proceed to develop our efforts to provide junior colleagues the boldness to talk up if they’ve one thing to boost.”

The external review was announced by ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall in May.

Its remit was to carry out an external review of the facts following Schofield’s departure from the broadcaster.

ITV said it had investigated “rumours of a relationship” between Schofield and a younger employee – but the pair “repeatedly denied” the affair.

Schofield had initially stated he was leaving This Morning as a result of he had “become the story” following rumours of a rift between him and co-presenter Holly Willoughby – who quit the show herself in October.

He joined the present as a presenter in 2002 and first hosted it with Willoughby in 2009.