Eamonn Holmes has hit out at a “delusional” Instagram post from Phillip Schofield, after the presenter defended This Morning from claims the programme is “toxic”.
Earlier this week, Schofield confessed to having had an affair with a much younger colleague who worked on the daytime TV show. The 61-year-old admitted he lied to his employers, co-star Holly Willoughby, his agent and his family about the nature of the relationship.
He has now resigned from ITV altogether but since his statement on Friday other presenters have come forward to say they had previously raised concerns about the programme.
Over the weekend, former This Morning resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh said he felt the culture was “toxic”, and had highlighted “bullying and discrimination” two years ago when he worked there but believed he was “managed out” for whistleblowing. Holmes has also made allegations about life behind the cameras at ITV, saying Schofield was not “the only guilty party”.
READ: Follow along with real-time updates of the Schofield scandal here
In an apparent response on Monday (29 May), Schofield shared an Instagram statement hitting out at “people with grudges”, claiming that it is “the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice”.
Schofield also said that there was “no toxicity” during his time on This Morning, which he called “the best show to work on, with the best people”.
Posting shortly before This Morning went on air with Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond hosting, he wrote: “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 best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there there was no toxicity.
“You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you 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.”
Holmes, who previously presented the show on Fridays with wife Ruth Langsford, criticised the statement in a scathing tweet.
“Schofield has put out a delusional statement,” wrote the GB News broadcaster. “Like Holly he puts it on Insta Stories so if it goes wrong there is no record after 24 hrs.”
Unlike a post shared to the Instagram grid, which will remain available to view publicly until it is deleted, anything shared on Instagram Stories will disappear after 24 hours.
“I’m reluctant to give the liar any more publicity but believe me Pip if u r looking for a fight , u have picked on the wrong person [sic]!” Holmes added.
The Independent has contacted a representative of Schofield and Willoughby for comment.
This is not the first time that Holmes has hit out at Schofield.
Last week, after Schofield announced his decision to exit This Morning, prior to news of his affair being made public, Holmes said he believes the presenter “was sacked”.
Speaking on his GB News breakfast show, Holmes said: “Oh please, just stop this. He was sacked. All this nonsense of ‘I’ve decided to step down’. I’m sure you did – ‘Here’s your P45 now step down.’”
An ITV spokesperson told The Independent: “Phillip Schofield’s decision to step down from This Morning was (as his statement made clear) a decision agreed between Phillip and ITV. “
Holmes had previously called both Schofield and Willoughby a pair of “actors”.
Less than one week after he quit This Morning, Schofield was dropped by his agents and announced he has formally cut ties with ITV after more than 20 years after he admitted to having had an affair with a much younger colleague.
The news followed nearly a week after Schofield stepped away from his role on This Morning amid rumours of a feud between himself and Willoughby.
Viewers noted O’Leary’s choice of words as he opened the episode, and went on to address the ongoing scandal. Willoughby is due to return to the show from half-term break on 5 June.
