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Eamonn Holmes has claimed there was a “whole 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 youthful male colleague on the present and has now stop the industrial broadcaster and been dropped by his expertise company YMU.
Schofield on Monday hit again at critics, saying on Instagram there was “no toxicity” on the programme, including: “I hope you’ve gotten observed that it is the similar handful of individuals with a grudge towards me or the present who appear to have the loudest voice.”
ITV mentioned there had been an investigation in early 2020 when “rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an worker of ITV first started to flow into” however mentioned it didn’t discover “any proof of a relationship past rumour and hearsay”.
An announcement from the industrial broadcaster on 27 Might mentioned: “Each events have been questioned and each categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then company YMU.
“As well as, ITV spoke to a lot of 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.”
However Holmes informed GB Information presenter Dan Wootton: “It is a whole cover-up.
“These in authority needed to know what was happening and so they thought they might dodge a bullet with this.
“Which they do and so they do continuously as a result of with Schofield speaking about those that communicate out towards him, particularly me, Amanda Holden and also you [Dan Wootton], you may be included within the toxicity that goes on… Dr Ranj [Singh] in fact as effectively.
“And also you merely sit there and assume ‘no mate, you’ve got had it all of your manner for too lengthy’.”
Learn extra:
A timeline of the This Morning controversy
ITV responds to rumours around show’s future
Why Schofield’s admission could kill off his career
Referring to Schofield’s feedback on Instagram, Holmes mentioned: “I believe that Phillip is totally proper about toxicity.
“However my pal, the toxicity isn’t with me, Dan Wootton, or anybody else, the toxicity is with you.”
Earlier within the day, Holmes on social media described Schofield as “delusional” and mentioned he has “picked the unsuitable particular person… should you’re on the lookout for a combat”.
ITV has been approached for remark by Sky Information about Holmes’s claims.
GB Information requested ITV’s managing director of media and leisure, Kevin Lygo, if there was a “cover-up” and if he “protected” Schofield.
Mr Lygo informed a GB Information producer: “We actually don’t have any extra to say.”
Holmes beforehand offered This Morning on Fridays along with his spouse Ruth Langsford.
The programme’s former resident physician Dr Ranj Singh has hit out on the present’s “poisonous” 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.
Schofield quit This Morning on 20 May after greater than 20 years.
Schofield initially mentioned he was stepping down from the present as a result of it had “change into the story”, following stories of a feud between him and co-host Holly Willoughby.
It got here after his brother was just lately jailed for 12 years over child sex offences.
Willoughby, 41, is because of return subsequent Monday (5 June), having gone on an early half-term vacation on 22 Might.
She mentioned that “when stories of this relationship first surfaced, I requested Phil immediately if this was true and was informed it was not”.
“It has been very hurtful to now discover out this was a lie,” an Instagram assertion added.
Schofield has now utterly resigned from ITV and been dropped by his agents.
In his assertion to the Each day Mail he additionally admitted mendacity about his affair to his spouse, to ITV, his brokers and the media.
The controversy has raised doubts about each Willoughby’s and the present’s future, however the channel has denied reports it may very well be axed.
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