ITV has mentioned it investigated "rumours of a relationship" between Phillip Schofield and a youthful worker - however the pair "repeatedly denied" the affair.

The assertion got here after questions had been raised over what community bosses knew concerning the conduct of the veteran broadcaster.

Fellow former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes had mentioned Schofield was "not the only guilty party" and claimed high administration "knew what sort of man he was".

Holmes spoke out after veteran broadcaster Schofield admitted having an "unwise, but not illegal" affair with a a lot youthful male ITV worker whereas he was nonetheless married.

He additionally give up the broadcaster on Friday.

Schofield's confession to the connection, and that he had lied about it, got here in a press release printed within the Daily Mail shortly earlier than his brokers, YMU, additionally revealed they had been parting firm with him with rapid impact.

In response to mounting stress on the broadcaster, an ITV spokesperson mentioned: "Further to our assertion final night time, ITV can affirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an worker of ITV first started to flow into in early 2020 ITV investigated.

"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.

"In addition, ITV spoke to various individuals who labored on This Morning and weren't supplied with, and didn't discover, any proof of a relationship past rumour and hearsay.

"Phillip's statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."

Previously writing on Twitter, Holmes mentioned: "Schofield has finally been caught out... But he's not the only guilty party. 4 high members of ITV management knew what sort of man he was."

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In one other submit, Holmes referred to how Schofield apparently lied to him and his spouse, presenter Ruth Langsford.

He added: "Ruth and I deceived and lied to. One day I will tell the story. We had no issue with him being gay, only support.

"What transpired took us for fools. The man instructed us full lies and we sadly believed him."

Separately, BBC presenter and former ITV newscaster Andrea Catherwood tweeted: "Much more questions on who knew what when at ITV to be answered after this…"

'It is now over'

Former This Morning star Schofield, 61, left the daytime present final week.

In a press release on Friday, Schofield mentioned he was "deeply sorry" for lying about the relationship.

He said: "I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a youthful male colleague at This Morning.

"Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.

"That relationship was unwise, however not unlawful. It is now over."

It is understood the younger colleague, who is not a public figure, did not want the relationship to be made public.

Read more:Schofield leaves This Morning after greater than 20 yearsTimeline of departure and rumours of rift with co-host HollyStatements from presenter and his agents in full

The affair took place before Mr Schofield publicly came out as gay in 2020, and while he was still married to his wife Stephanie Lowe.

In a damning statement, his former agents YMU Group said "honesty and integrity" were core values of their business and that their relationships are "primarily based fully on belief".

Schofield's exit from This Morning came after weeks of rumours of a rift between him and his co-presenter Holly Willoughby.

Reports of behind-the-scenes problems between the pair surfaced after his brother Tim Schofield was convicted of kid intercourse offences.

Content Source: information.sky.com