Phillip Schofield axed as ambassador for the Prince’s Trust
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hillip Schofield has been axed as an envoy for the Prince’s Trust because the charity says it’s “no longer appropriate” to work with him.
Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV on Friday and was dropped by his expertise company YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a youthful male colleague.
The relationship befell whereas the TV star was nonetheless married to spouse Stephanie Lowe and earlier than he got here out publicly as homosexual.
A Prince’s Trust spokesperson stated: “In light of Phillip’s recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together.”
I do not suppose you’ll ever see Holly Willoughby again on the sofa
Schofield is in a gaggle picture which continues to be on the charity’s web site that includes the King and different celeb ambassadors.
Since Schofield’s resignation, This Morning has been affected by allegations of “toxicity”.
Eamonn Holmes stated Holly Willoughby ought to comply with Schofield “out the door” of the present.
Holmes, who beforehand offered ITV’s flagship daytime present on Fridays with spouse Ruth Langsford, predicted that Willoughby is not going to return to the couch after Schofield’s exit.
Willoughby is because of return to the present on Monday June 5 after the half-term break, having taken an early vacation after news of Schofield’s departure emerged.
Speaking on Dan Wootton’s GB News present on Monday morning, Holmes stated: “Not only should Phillip go, but Holly should follow him close out the door.
“I don’t think you will ever see Holly Willoughby back on the couch.
“There are people who say for her it’s not about what Phillip did, for her it’s not about protecting the young fellow involved or whatever.
“There are people who are financial experts who will say this is about brand protection with her. She’s got her company and she’s got advertising deals, which suspiciously looks like she’s trying to distance herself from Phillip to protect those.”
She has profitable offers with Marks & Spencer and Garnier and has a life-style model known as Wylde Moon.
Representatives for Willoughby have been contacted for remark.
Holmes, who stated he was “tossed out the door” when he was given the boot from ITV, alleged there was a “total cover-up” on This Morning over Schofield’s affair.
He instructed Wootton: “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 simply sit there and think, ‘No, mate. You’ve had it all your way for too long’.”
Holmes additionally stated that he and his spouse Ruth Langsford – who had been presenters on This Morning on the day Schofield got here out stay on air in February 2020 – “feel angry” and “used” after his resignation.
The present’s former resident physician, Dr Ranj Singh, has hit out on the present’s “toxic” tradition, saying he raised considerations about “bullying and discrimination” two years in the past when he labored there and afterwards felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.
TV executives, together with from ITV, are reportedly anticipated to seem earlier than MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee subsequent week the place the difficulty of Schofield could possibly be raised.
The session is anticipated to give attention to scrutiny of the forthcoming Media Bill, with SNP MP John Nicolson – a committee member – writing on Twitter: “The issues erupting around ITV have been a cause for concern. I look forward to getting some answers from ITV bosses.”
On Saturday, an ITV spokesperson stated: “Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
“Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.
“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”
In an Instagram publish earlier on Monday, Schofield hit again at his critics, saying there was “no toxicity” on This Morning.
He added: “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.”
Holmes responded: “I think that Phillip is absolutely right about toxicity.
“But, my friend, the toxicity is not with me, Dan Wootton, or anyone else. The toxicity is with you.
“This nonsense that he wrote today about toxicity, about how (This Morning) is a happy place or whatever, holy God, what planet does this man live on?
“He created an atmosphere where people hated him.
“People would avoid him in the corridor. He didn’t look at anybody, didn’t know anybody’s name.
“Holly doesn’t know people’s names either. This is legendary within the production team, how distant they are and how they just don’t care.”
Schofield declined to touch upon the claims within the interview on GB News.
When This Morning aired on Monday, hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond and contributor Gyles Brandreth appeared to defend the present from the toxicity allegations.
O’Leary stated: “We all know we happen to be in the news at the moment and of course we appreciate that, but just from both of us, the whole team here, the crew, the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you.”
Hammond added: “We really do and that’s exactly what we are going to do, we are going to continue to do that.”
Brandreth, who was within the studio to assessment the news tales of the day, stated: “We are very happy to be here, can I say that as well?
“This is a happy place to work, I enjoy coming in here and have done since I began coming in. We are happy people in a happy place.”