Phillip Schofield: ITV boss tells MPs she did not turn a blind eye to affair

ITV bosses person said they did not "turn a unsighted eye" to rumours astir ex-presenter Phillip Schofield's narration with a younger colleague.

On Wednesday, ITV main enforcement Dame Carolyn McCall told MPs the matter was "deeply inappropriate", but that she had not had grounds until recently.

She added that she was precise acrophobic astir the payment of the pair.

Dame Carolyn and 2 chap executives were called successful beforehand of the House of Commons culture, media and athletics committee to reply questions astir ITV's attack to safeguarding and ailment handling.

"The imbalance of power, the imbalance successful of dynamics successful that narration makes it profoundly inappropriate," said Dame Carolyn, who noted she archetypal became alert of rumours erstwhile Schofield came retired arsenic cheery connected the amusement successful February 2020.

"That is the archetypal clip things got truly febrile," with speculation connected societal media, she said.

They asked Schofield astir his alleged narration aft that, but helium gave them "straightforward categorical denials each time", she said.

ITV manager of tv Kevin Lygo told the MPs: "He looked maine successful the oculus and promised maine that determination was perfectly nary information whatsoever successful this, successful the rumours of this relationship."

Dame Carolyn added: "We asked aggregate times of some individuals, some formally and informally. Because we had nary evidence, no-one brought america thing tangible, either connected the accumulation level oregon from the outside... determination was lone hearsay and rumour and speculation."

She continued: "Nobody would beryllium turning a unsighted oculus to something. Nobody present connected the absorption committee would ever crook a unsighted oculus to thing arsenic superior arsenic this."

Schofield suggested successful an interrogation with the BBC earlier this period that the contention had near him feeling suicidal. Dame Carolyn said ITV was present paying for his counselling.

She said she spoke to the presenter the time earlier helium stood down from This Morning due to the fact that she knew it was a "pretty large happening successful his life".

"Phillip is receiving counselling, which ITV are funding. He asked for that, and we're precise blessed to bash that," she said.

She added they were besides "extremely concerned" astir the young antheral - who met Schofield aged 15 and received assistance getting into the TV manufacture - due to the fact that "the level of intrusion successful his beingness is unbelievably awful".

She said ITV was providing him with "a full bid of work of attraction [provisions] each the mode through, adjacent though helium near the institution successful 2021".

Dame Carolyn besides confirmed determination was "no gagging bid oregon NDA [non-disclosure agreement]" to halt the unidentified man, present successful his precocious 20s, from speaking retired astir the situation.

ITV besides said helium had not efficaciously received a pay-off successful speech for his silence.

In his caller BBC interview, Schofield, 61, said helium understood wherefore radical thought determination had been an maltreatment of power, but that it "didn't consciousness similar that astatine the time".

The web has instructed a lawyer to transportation retired an outer reappraisal to found the facts astir however it handled its ain reappraisal of rumours of the matter successful 2020.

During Wednesday's session, the ITV executives besides denied accusations from immoderate erstwhile contributors of a "toxic" civilization astatine the programme.

Dame Carolyn said that proposition "deeply disappoints me" and "we bash not recognise that successful This Morning".

She added. "We've had 2 complaints successful 5 years astir that contented [and] some of them taken precise seriously."

One of those was from Dr Ranj Singh, who appeared connected This Morning for 10 years and said issues "go acold beyond" Schofield.

ITV has antecedently said that aft Dr Ranj's complaint, an outer reappraisal "found nary grounds of bullying oregon discrimination".

But SNP MP John Nicolson said helium and different committee members had received "so galore messages from people astatine ITV, who speech astir the bullying civilization of ITV".

The erstwhile ITV and BBC quality presenter work a enactment of anonymous messages. One referred to a brag who utilized to "shout and belittle staff", portion different called ITV a "terrible spot to work".

The committee's seat Dame Caroline Dinenage concluded by telling the executives determination was "clearly immoderate enactment for ITV to bash present to rebuild spot with with us, but much importantly with its unit and with its viewers that it's a harmless and welcoming workplace."

She added: "We privation to beryllium assured that ITV is not letting prima powerfulness and favouritism harm the lives and careers of radical moving determination - and, much importantly than that, we privation to beryllium assured that erstwhile mistakes person been made, ITV volition beryllium making changes alternatively than making jokes astir aubergines."

That was a notation to a caller remark made by This Morning exertion Martin Frizell erstwhile helium was asked by a Sky News newsman whether his programme had a toxic workplace. "I'll archer you what's toxic and I've ever recovered it toxic. Aubergine," helium replied.

Analysis by Steven McIntosh, amusement reporter

ITV bosses did arsenic overmuch arsenic they could successful their effort to reassure MPs, viewers and advertisers that they had nary cognition of the matter erstwhile it was happening, and that their work of attraction policies are robust.

We besides got immoderate cardinal accusation from Wednesday's league - possibly astir significantly, confirmation from ITV bosses that they did not scope a fiscal colony with the young antheral successful speech for his silence.

This communicative whitethorn person cooled successful the past week oregon so, but it is not over. The autarkic probe being carried retired by Jane Mulcahy KC is ongoing and galore volition beryllium speechmaking its findings intimately erstwhile they are published.

There are besides a fewer outstanding questions for This Morning. Schofield's replacement arsenic Holly Willoughby's imperishable co-host has inactive not yet been announced. Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary are the frontrunners.

For now, ITV bosses volition anticipation their answers during the two-hour grilling from MPs person done capable to trim the aggravated unit the broadcast web has faced successful caller weeks.