ITV execs face a grilling by MPs over This Morning ’s “toxic” culture as The Prince’s Trust ditches Phillip Schofield as an ambassador.
The fallout over the Schofield scandal showed no signs of easing as the charity dropped the bombshell.
And the work environment at the popular daytime show is likely to be closely scrutinised when ITV bosses give evidence to MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport committee.
The meeting was arranged before Schofield, 61, quit after lying about an affair with a young male colleague.
It will be about updating broadcasting rules in the new Media Bill but MPs are likely to focus on ITV’s recent upheaval.
ITV has just applied to watchdog Ofcom to renew its licence, which expires next year. Yesterday, a Prince’s Trust spokesman revealed it would no longer be working with the ex-TV host.
In a statement the Trust, which helps young people get on in life, said: “In light of Phillip’s recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together.”
A bookie is now offering even money on the shamed presenter following the route of former Health Minister Matt Hancock and appearing on this year’s I’m A Celebrity to win public support,
A spokesman for Aspers said: ‘Customers are jumping on the idea of Schofield going for a no-holds barred rumble in the jungle, probably tears and all, to try and fix his reputation. Stranger things have happened!’
When Phillip’s statement was released on Friday about his affair, bosses from ITV were at pains to insist they were not aware it had happened, something which has been challenged since.
At the time one senior source told the Mirror: “He lied point blank to staff at every level.”
It comes after former ITV employee Dr Ranj Singh claimed he was “managed out” of This Morning following his complaints about the behaviour of staff.
Other disgruntled former This Morning presenters including Eamonn Holmes have spoken out about the environment, despite Schofield’s attempts to dismiss the accusations as coming from “a handful of people with a grudge”.
Schofield said in his statement on Friday: “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, but not illegal. It is now over.”
He later added: “In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven’t been truthful about the relationship.
“But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now.
“I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.
“I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.
“I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.”
Holly Willoughby has vowed to return to the sofa on Monday, but her co-host is yet to be confirmed.
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are presenting during half term.
