An ITV boss was grilled by MPs today on claims of 'bullying' at This Morning following allegations of a 'toxic and unhappy' atmosphere at the daytime show.
Magnus Brooke, Group Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation at ITV, sat down in front of politicians after the flagship show has been embroiled in controversy following Phillip Schofield's admission of an affair with a younger colleague.
Questions had been raised about a cover up at ITV studios with former staff members coming forward with claims of a toxic atmosphere and behind the scenes bullying.
Group Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation at ITV faced a barrage of questions from MPs about the allegations.
MP John Nicolson began the hearing by asking Brooke whether he was "OK" in a direct reference to a speech Holly Willoughby gave on Monday.
Brooke soberly replied that he was “fine” before the questioning commenced.
During the hearing, Brooke admitted that comments by Martin Frizell were “extremely ill-judged” after the This Morning editor referred to aubergines when asked about allegations of a “toxic” work environment on the programme.
Frizell was approached by Sky News ahead of presenter Holly Willoughby’s return to This Morning following the furore over Phillip Schofield’s departure from ITV after he admitted having an affair with a younger colleague.
Asked if there is a “toxic” work environment on the show, the editor replied: “I’ll tell you what’s toxic, and I’ve always found it toxic – aubergine. Do you like aubergine? Do you? Do you like aubergine, because I don’t like aubergine. It’s just a personal thing.”
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Mr Brooke told MPs: “I wouldn’t endorse what he said.”
He said he would not use the word “bizarre” to describe the comments and that it was “extremely ill-judged to say what he did”.
Mr Brooke added: “I can reassure you on behalf of ITV that we do take all of these allegations very seriously precisely because we do have a culture where people’s conduct matters enormously.”
Asked if Frizell’s position is secure, he said: “That is not a question for me and not a question for now.”
Nicolson then pressed the ITV boss on allegations from past staff members that This Morning was an 'unhappy' place to work.
He said: "I spent some time at the weekend talking to whistleblowers from ITV including people who work and have worked at This Morning. It seems like a very unhappy place.
“Are you satisfied with the duty of care that the editorial team and senior managers provide to staff, especially young staff working there and at ITV more generally?”
Magnus replied: "I think there's a there's a very sophisticated and a significant system of safeguarding, and duty of care at ITV with a very significant set of policies. We have a code of conduct, which sets out our expectations about how people behave, and deals with a number of different issues.
"We have opportunities to respect, dignity and understanding. And then we then have an important set of requirements, which hold people to account in turn."
"Why are so many of the staff unhappy, former and current staff?" Nicolson quipped as the ITV boss hit back: "I can't answer that question at the moment Mr. Nicholson, as you know, we've also appointed Jane Mulcahy, a KC to have a look at the circumstances."
The MP went on to quiz Brooke about "bullying allegations" to which the ITV boss insisted: "Look we take our responsibilities in relation to safeguarding a duty of care very seriously. Bullying is absolutely in breach of our Code of Conduct, very clearly."
Since Phillip quit This Morning, the likes of Eamonn Holmes and Dr Ranj Singh have spoken out to condemn Schofield's position at ITV's flagship daytime show after the host of 20 years stepped down after confessing to an affair with a younger runner.
Dr Ranj Singh, who was a regular contributor on the show, said he made a complaint about the toxicity at This Morning to the head of ITV during his time there.
Meanwhile, Eamonn told Dan Wootton on GB News that "the toxicity" is with Phillip.
"He is the chief narcissist. He is a complete and utter dyed in the wool narcissist, everything is about him.
"He created an atmosphere where people hated him; those people he would avoid them in the corridor, he didn’t look at anybody, he didn’t know anybody’s name," Eamonn claimed.
Speaking to BBC's Amol Rajan, Phillip addressed criticism from former This Morning stars.
He said: "I have never abused my power anywhere, I'm not a bully. You read the things you are supposed to be. I don't lord it over TV studios. Everyone is a friend.
"I've had texts from people I worked with saying, 'Oh my God I cant believe they are saying this we love working with you.'
"I snapped once at one of producers around the time I came out and after the meeting I went and apologised. It's not me I don't do that. I'm not rude on the studio floor. I don't lord it around."
Addressing criticism from his former co-stars, Schofield said: "Some people may be toxic, and see toxicity everywhere because that's the lens they are looking at the world."
