ITV staff slam claims ‘one person knew’ of Schofield affair as probe is exposed

Staff at ITV have hit out at an external investigation into Phillip Schofield's affair with a much younger colleague.

Following a lengthy inquiry, set up during the summer, the final report on what happened within ITV was released on Thursday (December 7). In the findings, it was revealed that just one person within the company had known about the affair between the host and his co-worker.

The report also found that the other person had found out the information about the affair in 2021, over a year before Phillip was forced to go public about the debacle. Phillip and the colleague, who was at least 30 years younger than Schofield himself, 61, first met in 2017 when the runner joined This Morning.

READ MORE: ITV This Morning staff 'feared losing jobs' if they spoke about Phillip Schofield affair

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While things were fine at first, things took a more romantic tone when the pair seemingly shared an intimate moment in Phillip's dressing room later that year. The pair continued to keep their blossoming relationship a secret, as Phillip still had a wife and children at this time, before he publicly came out as being gay in 2020.

During the course of the investigation, both Phillip and the colleague were due to be interrogated heavily by those carrying out the report. But in the finished report, neither Schofield nor the runner themselves would co-operate with investigators, together with four other staff members at ITV.

Now, staff working at the station have reportedly slammed the report, branding it a "whitewash" to allow Phillip to continue his work. Speaking to The Sun, one anonymous member of staff said that the results of the investigation were not surprising.

"That’s not to say that we all agree with them – rumours of the affair were swirling around then entire floor from 2019," the source added. "Even talent – high profile names – were aware of the gossip even if they had no proof, or didn’t ask the right questions to the right people."

The employee continued: "It’s seems utterly implausible only one person knew. It’s a predictably sanitised version of events."

As well as this, the insider said that allegations of a toxic working culture were untrue. They added that the show just wants to carry on as normal.

"Generally it really is a happy ship – and this marks the start of a new era," the employee added. Everyone just wants to move on now, and start afresh."

A second staff member spoke to MailOnline and claimed there was a "chasm" between what the report said and what really happened. "What's clear is that ITV will need more than policies and procedures to address its culture of silence," they added.

Schofield initially left This Morning in May amid swirling rumours that he and best pal Holly Willoughby had fallen out off-set. However, things took a darker turn when Phillip admitted to the affair with his colleague, saying it was "unwise but not illegal".

Co-star Holly, 42, insisted she had no idea of the relationship herself and that she was shocked to learn of the affair. Holly would go on to stay in her role as a presenter on the ITV show until October, when she decided to leave her job presenting the show following a threat to kidnap and kill her.

This Morning airs every weekday at 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.

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