Phillip Schofield and former This Morning colleague Eamonn Holmes squared up to each other in a bitter war of words yesterday.
Schofield, who quit after lying about an affair with a young male colleague, said claims there was a toxic culture on the ITV show were inaccurate.
He blamed a handful of people with a grudge for the damning remarks.
But Holmes, 63, called Schofield, 61, delusional and said he had picked the wrong person if he wanted a fight.
The spat came as bosses continued to fight to save This Morning from the axe and co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, pledged to stick with the show.
Yesterday, Schofield said: “Now I no longer work on This Morning 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 hit back: “Schofield has just put out a delusional statement.
“Like Holly he puts it on Insta Stories so if it goes wrong there is no record after 24 hrs. 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!”
Holmes claims he and wife Ruth Langsford, 63, were sacked from the show last year. He has accused Schofield and Willoughby of “a lack of kindness”.
On yesterday’s show, hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond referenced the claims of “toxicity”. Dermot, 50, said: “We all know we happen to be in the news at the moment and of course we appreciate that, but just from both of us, the whole team here, the crew, the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you.”
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, who was reviewing the day’s news stories, added: “This is a happy place to work, I enjoy coming in here and have done since I began coming in.”
On Sunday, the show’s former doctor, Dr Ranj Singh, 43, said he had taken complaints about staff members to the top.
He said: “The culture at This Morning has become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values, and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out.” ITV said after the complaint an independent adviser carried out a review, which found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.
Willoughby, due back on the sofa on Monday, said she was hurt by Schofield’s lies about his relationship with a runner which developed once the production assistant turned 18. Schofield had first met him when he was 15.
Talent agency YMU said it had “parted company” with Schofield with immediate effect. This month his brother Timothy, 54, was jailed for 12 years for sexually abusing a boy.
In February 2020 Phil came out as gay on air. He married Stephanie Lowe in 1993 and they have two daughters together, Ruby, 27, and Molly, 29 – who now works for YMU.
