Phillip Schofield hits again at critics after admitting affair with youthful colleague

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.

Less than half an hour earlier than the programme was resulting from air on Monday, the 61-year-old posted an announcement to his 2.9 million followers on Instagram.

It learn: “Now I no longer work on @thismorning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem 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 can take heed to these persistently loud voices for those who like.

“But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know, it IS a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard working people.”

Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, who’ve offered the present since Schofield stepped down on 20 May, mentioned quickly after it began that “we know we happen to be in the news at the moment”.

“Of course we appreciate that,” O’Leary mentioned forward of their newspaper evaluate. “But from us and everyone here… the people downstairs, we want to say that we love making this show”.

Hammond added: “We really do. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Gyles Brandreth, who was reviewing the papers, additionally provided his assist, saying: “This is a happy place to work. I enjoy coming here.”

It comes after former This Morning physician Ranj Singh, launched a prolonged assertion concerning the “toxic culture” on the present, claiming the “issues” with it “go far beyond him [Schofield]”.

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

“He’s not the only guilty party. 4 high members of ITV management knew what sort of man he was,” he mentioned on Twitter.

ITV have mentioned 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 mentioned his formal grievance was investigated however discovered “no evidence of bullying or discrimination”.

First present since affair admission

Hammond and O’Leary are presenting the ITV daytime present at the moment, 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.

Originally on 20 May, he had mentioned he was quitting because the programme had “become the story” following studies of a feud between him and his co-host Holly Willoughby. His brother Timothy Schofield had additionally been jailed for 12 years over youngster intercourse offences.

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

She has mentioned that “when reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not”.

“It’s been very hurtful to now find out this was a lie,” her Instagram assertion added.

Read extra:
ITV responds to rumours round present’s future
Why Schofield’s admission might kill off his profession
Replacement presenters introduced after Schofield exit

Schofield has now fully resigned from ITV and been dropped by his brokers.

His assertion to the Daily 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 studies its flagship programme might be axed.