An ex-ITV bigwig has savagely labelled presenter Holly Willoughby ‘damaged goods’ and cautions that more is yet to be revealed over the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Ian McCulloch, former commercial director at the broadcaster, made the comments during a TV interview. Phil left the popular This Morning show after revealing that he had lied to bosses about an affair with a younger male colleague.
Phil shocked fans by describing his relationship as ‘unwise’ but not ‘illegal’ and said that the relationship was now over. Holly responded by claiming that she had no knowledge of the affair and that when she asked him about it, Phil denied it.
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Ian has said that the whole ordeal means that the new show must welcome new presenters in order to preserve its future, The Mirror reports.
Speaking to GB News, he said: "I do absolutely agree that none of the on-screen talent, well, those two, they cannot be associated with the show. She's damaged goods. They need a fresh start. I’m not sure that the talent that they've got, sort of running through at the minute is the right talent. But I think the show is a good show, but you certainly can't have those two.
"There is so much more to come out in this story. And I don't think her statements are particularly plausible, though it looks as though she's clinging on. I think they need to make a clean break and just move the show on."
Ian suggested the show is "getting tired" and "needs resting".
"It's happened again, the creative control isn't there. They haven't refreshed the show. We've got it in peak time with ITV, where you can see some shows are starting to look tired and they need resting," he said.
"I think from the public's point of view, this almost looks like an episode of Love Island. You put a bunch of egomaniacs together and see what's going to explode, and over time this has exploded."
Sources say a "defiant" Holly is keen to return to This Morning on Monday June 5th after the half term break.
An insider told The Sun : "She has made it clear she was one of the people Phil lied to and she has nothing to hide. She will return to This Morning as planned on Monday and carry on like the professional she is. Holly has been affected by Phil's actions and it has been very difficult. She is devoted to This Morning however and will continue to do the best job she can for them."
Following Phil's admission, Holly broke her silence to say: "It’s taken time to process yesterday's news. 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 that this was a lie."
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