ITV has requested a barrister to hold out an exterior evaluation of Phillip Schofield's departure from This Morning.

The development was introduced by the broadcaster's chief govt, Dame Carolyn McCall, in a letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, and the Ofcom chief govt, Dame Melanie Dawes.

Here are key extracts:

"You may have seen the numerous media protection regarding Phillip Schofield.

"As you'll count on we take the matter extraordinarily critically and have reviewed our personal data over the weekend.

"These show that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in late 2019/early 2020 ITV investigated.

"Both events had been questioned then and each categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Phillip's then company, YMU.

"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on the This Morning and wider Daytime team and were not provided with, and did not find any evidence of, a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.

"Given the continuing rumours, we continued to ask questions of each events, who each continued to disclaim the rumours, together with as not too long ago as this month."

Read extra:Phillip Schofield dropped as ambassador for The Prince's TrustEamonn Holmes claims there was 'total cover-up' over Schofield's affairA timeline of the This Morning controversy

The letter goes on to say ITV provided "support" to the person who Phillip Schofield mentioned he had an affair with.

"As you would imagine, given the social media scrutiny of him, we have offered him our support throughout this period and indeed are still doing so.

"The worker has made it clear that he doesn't want to be named or recognized in reference to this matter.

"We would be grateful if you would be mindful of this.

"The relationships we now have with these we work with are based mostly on belief.

"Phillip made assurances to us and his agency which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down.

"We contemplate our strategy was cheap and proportionate on the time and within the circumstances.

"We believe that we did not have any grounds to mount any other sort of investigation."

The letter additionally refers to wider claims about This Morning, together with allegations of a "toxic culture" by Dr Ranj Singh, a former presenter on the present, saying: "We were sorry to read his statement."

"We are fully committed to providing every opportunity for anyone who works with us to raise any concern or comments they may have.

"Following a criticism made by Dr Ranj, we appointed an exterior and impartial adviser to hold out a evaluation.

"This external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.

"I wish to reassure you that as a producer and broadcaster, ITV takes its obligations round responsibility of care and talking up critically and has sturdy and well-established processes in place which permit anybody who works with us to lift considerations they might have anonymously.

"The confidential reporting number and other ways of raising concerns are promoted via a number of channels, which includes ITV's internal staff website, across ITV buildings and how to speak up is part of ITV's code of ethics and conduct annual mandatory training for all staff.

"We have now instructed Jane Mulcahy KC (Blackstone Chambers) to hold out an exterior evaluation to ascertain the information.

"She will review our records and talk to people involved.

"This work can even contemplate our related processes and insurance policies and whether or not we have to change or strengthen any.

"Given Phillip's admission of the extent of his deception the work will extend to cover any related issues that may emerge.

"This work might be carried out as rapidly as attainable and we might be joyful to share the end result."