This Morning host Dermot O'Leary has assured viewers that everyone involved in the show is happy to be working there. He was speaking on the first episode since former regular host Phillip Schofield quit This Morning, before revealing that he had lied about an affair with a younger cast member, and quitting ITV.
On Monday, May 29, Dermot and Alison Hammond addressed the situation within the first ten minutes of the show. When introducing Giles Brandreth and Sonia Sodha for the news section Dermot said that the cast and crew "love making the show".
He said: "We all know we have to be in the news at the moment and of course, we appreciate that but just from both us and the whole team here, the crew and the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you." For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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Alison added: "Yeah, we really do and that is exactly what we are going to do, we are going to continue to do that." Giles also said "We are very happy to be here" and said This Morning was a "happy place to work" and he had enjoyed coming to work since he started at This Morning.
Phillip has also posted a statement to his Instagram story, reiterating that This Morning is not "toxic". He said: "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."
ITV has confirmed it carried out an investigation into rumours that Phillip Schofield had engaged in a relationship with an ITV employee, but that both parties repeatedly denied it. Holly Willougby has stated that Mr Schofield denied any affair to her.
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