Grilling of ITV bosses in parliament ‘not a witch hunt’ in opposition to Philip Schofield

The chair of parliament’s media committee has insisted a grilling of ITV’s boss in entrance of MPs subsequent week will not be a “witch hunt” in opposition to former presenter Philip Schofield.

Dame Caroline Dinenage advised Sky News the aim of the assembly was to ask wider questions on office tradition and practices within the wake of his resignation over an affair with a youthful worker.

The DCMS committee (Department of Media, Culture and Sport) is already set to query ITV, alongside executives from Channel 4 and Channel 5, in regards to the draft Media Bill as we speak.

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Dame Caroline stated she was “very concerned that the whole thing would be dominated by questions about This Morning” so invited ITV chief government Dame Carolyn McCall to a separate assembly in entrance of MPs subsequent Wednesday.

The Conservative MP added: “I don’t want this to be a witch hunt about Phillip Schofield. For us, it’s about the workplace practices, about the systems and processes that are in place to protect staff members within ITV and other public service broadcasters.”

Asked if she was involved the processes weren’t passable, Dame Caroline stated: “The fact is that these big public service broadcasters have these gods of television, these incredibly powerful and successful celebrities who do have incredible influence and power, and my committee want to make sure that there are the right workplace practices in place, the right duty of care over junior staff members.

“They (celebrities) do have the potential energy over different individuals’s careers, and we need to make sure that every little thing is in place that stops that being abused in any manner”.

Schofield, 61, has admitted to an “unwise however not unlawful” relationship with a youthful male colleague and stepped down from his roles with ITV. He was additionally dropped by expertise company YMU.

He has since insisted he “did not” groom the person, who additionally labored on the present, and who the presenter stated was 20 years outdated when their relationship started.

Dame Caroline stated one other function of the DCMS committee questioning was to ask about whistleblowing practices as “in this particular case, we know that on more than one occasion emails were sent to the boss of ITV, drawing attention to this particular situation”.

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However, she harassed: “I’m really keen that it doesn’t get boiled down too much to individuals. I think all public service broadcasters can learn from this.”

She added that she was “worried” for Schofield, who has admitted having suicidal ideas because the scandal broke and likened his scenario to what Caroline Flack confronted earlier than her demise.

Schofield’s affair passed off whereas the tv star was nonetheless married to spouse Stephanie Lowe, and earlier than he got here out publicly as homosexual in 2020.

He had denied having a relationship with a colleague when questioned by ITV about rumours in early 2020.

ITV has since introduced an exterior evaluate of the saga led by a barrister.