Sources have revealed that Phillip Schofield ‘s “toxic” actions and affair with a young male colleague was reported by eight ITV employees at the time.
Phillip’s conduct has been dominating the news for the past few weeks after a sensational exit from the broadcast network.
Phillip, 61, originally quit his role as veteran host of This Morning, after his brother was publicly convicted as a paedophile sex offender.
READ MORE: Kim Woodburn slams Phillip Schofield saying it’s ‘hard to believe ITV didn’t know’
Less than a week after his departure, rumours of an affair between Phillip and a young male colleague came to a head and Phillip was forced to admit the inappropriate fling.
At the time of the relationship, Phillip was married, and the colleague allegedly in his late teens.
ITV has since investigated claims into Schofield’s affair, but found no evidence “beyond hearsay and rumour”.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Phillip has now quit ITV altogether, and various ex-colleagues are coming out of the woodwork to have their say on the scandal.
Various ITV stars, including Dan Wootton, say they reported the relationship at the time but were met with disdain.
Dan Wootton worked as showbiz presenter on ITV’s breakfast show Lorraine, and divulged that he flagged Schofield’s behaviour at the time, but was silenced.
Dan told the MailOnline, “I was executive editor of The Sun at that point and had spoken to eight household name ITV stars who were raising concerns about Phillip’s ‘toxic’ behaviour, specifically the inappropriate relationship with the man.
“Surely, at the very least, I pushed Moore, ITV has a duty to investigate the information we were presenting to him?
“But he made it clear the broadcaster had no intention of doing so.”
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Dan explained that he quit after ITV executives threatened to take him off the air if he reported on the Schofield scandal.
He alleged that everyone working on ITV daytime were aware of the affair, but were too afraid of consequences to make a fuss.
Dan claims at least one Loose Women presenter complained of Phillip’s actions to management.
The New Zealand broadcaster mentioned that Schofield had already attempted to get Dan “sacked multiple times”.
(Image: PA)
A spokesperson for ITV has since made a statement, claiming he “lied” to everyone, with all colleagues kept in the dark.
The spokesperson wrote: “Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
“Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.
“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”
Phillip has since resigned from ITV, and his roles hosting This Morning, The British Soap Awards, and Dancing On Ice (amongst others) have been left to hang in the balance until a replacement is found.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
