Eamonn Holmes has claimed there was a "total cover-up" over Phillip Schofield's affair with a youthful male colleague on This Morning whereas he was married.

Holmes, 63, who additionally offered on the present, has accused Schofield of "toxicity" amid the furore over the tradition on the ITV daytime programme.

Host Schofield, 61, admitted final Friday to an "unwise, but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague on the present and has now give up the industrial broadcaster and been dropped by his expertise company YMU.

Schofield right now hit again at critics, saying on Instagram that there was "no toxicity" on the programme, including: "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."

ITV stated there had been an investigation in early 2020 when "rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate" however stated it didn't discover "any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour".

A press release from the industrial broadcaster on 27 May stated: "Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.

"In addition, ITV spoke to quite a few individuals who labored on This Morning and weren't supplied with, and didn't discover, any proof of a relationship past rumour and hearsay... He lied to folks at ITV, from senior administration to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."

But Holmes instructed GB News presenter Dan Wootton: "It's a total cover-up.

"Those in authority needed to know what was occurring and so they thought they'd 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 [Singh] as well.

"And you merely sit there and assume 'no mate, you've got had it all of your manner for too lengthy'."

Referring to Schofield's latest comments, Holmes said: "I believe that Phillip is totally proper about toxicity.

"But my friend, the toxicity is not with me, Dan Wootton, or anyone else, the toxicity is with you."

ITV has been approached for remark by Sky News about Holmes's claims.

Holmes beforehand offered This Morning on Fridays along with his spouse Ruth Langsford.

The programme's former resident physician Dr Ranj Singh earlier 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.