Phillip Schofield hits back at critics after admitting affair with younger colleague on This Morning | Ents & Arts News

Phillip Schofield has hit again at critics in his first assertion after admitting having an affair with a a lot youthful colleague on This Morning.

Lower than half an hour earlier than the programme was as a consequence of air on Monday, the 61-year-old posted a message to his 2.9 million followers on Instagram.

It learn: “Now I not work on @thismorning I’m free to say this. I hope you will have observed that it is the identical handful of individuals with a grudge in opposition to me or the present who appear to have the loudest voice.

“This morning IS the very best present to work on, with the very best individuals. In all of the years I labored there there was no toxicity. You may hearken to these persistently loud voices for those who like.

“However the hundreds of friends over time, hundreds of workers and crew, tons of of presenters and contributors all know, it IS a household of great, proficient, sort, laborious working individuals.”

Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, who’ve introduced since Schofield stepped down on 20 May, stated quickly after Monday’s present began that “we all know we occur to be within the information in the mean time”.

“In fact we admire that,” O’Leary stated forward of their newspaper overview. “However from us and everybody right here… the individuals downstairs, we need to say that we love making this present.”

Hammond added: “We actually do. And that is precisely what we’ll do.”

Gyles Brandreth, who was reviewing the papers, additionally provided his assist, saying: “This can be a pleased place to work. I get pleasure from coming right here.”

‘Poisonous tradition’ at ITV goes ‘far past’ Schofield

It comes after former This Morning doctor Ranj Singh, launched a prolonged assertion concerning the “poisonous tradition” on the present, claiming the “points” with it “go far past him [Schofield]”.

Schofield’s former colleague Eamonn Holmes stated in his response to the controversy that he had “finally been caught out”.

“He isn’t the one responsible celebration. 4 excessive members of ITV administration knew what kind of man he was,” he stated on Twitter.

ITV have stated they investigated “rumours of a relationship” between the host and a manufacturing assistant on the present in 2020 however that each events denied it.

In response to Dr Ranj’s claims they stated his formal criticism was investigated however discovered “no proof of bullying or discrimination”.

First present since affair admission

Hammond and O’Leary are presenting the ITV daytime present immediately, having paid a brief 30-second tribute to him on Friday – a day earlier than he revealed he had stop the programme over an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a manufacturing assistant on the present.

Initially, he had stated he was quitting because the programme had “turn out to be the story” following reviews of a feud between him and his co-host Holly Willoughby. His brother Timothy Schofield had additionally been jailed for 12 years over baby intercourse offences.

Willoughby, 41, is because of return subsequent Monday (5 June), having taken an early half-term vacation on 22 Could.

She has stated that “when reviews of this relationship first surfaced, I requested Phil instantly if this was true and was instructed it was not”.

“It has been very hurtful to now discover out this was a lie,” her Instagram assertion added.

Learn extra:
ITV responds to rumours around show’s future
Why Schofield’s admission could kill off his career
Replacement presenters announced after Schofield exit

Schofield has now utterly resigned from ITV and been dropped by his agents.

His assertion to the Each day Mail additionally admitted mendacity concerning the affair, whereas nonetheless married to his spouse Stephanie Lowe, to ITV, his brokers and the media.

The controversy across the affair has raised doubts about each Willoughby’s and the present’s future.

ITV has denied any reports its flagship programme could possibly be axed.