PHILLIP Schofield has refused to take part in an ITV show launched after his affair with a colleague, it emerged today.
It was also revealed that only one person knew about their relationship – and that only in 2021.
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A report on the Phillip Schofield affair was published today
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The investigation was launched in June after Schofield clarified the connection Credit: Splash
The runner, who was at least 30 years younger than Schofield, made his ITV debut in 2017 and the presenter admitted they shared a moment in his dressing room that same year.
The former This Morning presenter, 61, and his ex-lover were due to be questioned amid the review – after their affair came to light in May.
However, it was revealed today that the pair have turned down the collaboration – along with four others.
In Jane Mulcahy KC’s report, Schofield is identified as PS and the runner PX as Person X.
Ms Mulcahy wrote: “PS I reluctantly decline[d]’ my invitation to participate in the Review because of the danger to his health.
“I am informed that PS’s mental health has since deteriorated.”
It said the runner “wanted to get on with his life and was not prepared to help” in the review.
Schofield was axed from This Morning in May and then admitted to having an affair after rumors began to circulate.
Today’s report reveals that of the 48 people interviewed, only one person knew about the affair before May.
And they were only told two years before.
The findings also suggest that one person is not Holly Willoughby since she was a junior on ITV.
Ms Mulcahly wrote: “Only one person I spoke to knew about the affair between PS and PX before May 2023 (they became aware of it in 2021) and that former junior employee did not report her knowledge at the time.
“Nor have others reported suspicions since much earlier in 2017.”
The review found that the TV made “considerable efforts” to find out the truth about the relationship, but “was unable to uncover the relevant evidence” until Schofield admitted it.
In her report, Ms Mulcahy said today: “I have no doubt that senior management are absolutely aware of the importance of an open culture.
“But this culture still doesn’t filter down to younger employees, many of whom remain convinced that speaking up will have a detrimental impact on their careers.”
‘PUBLIC SECRET’
Earlier this year, ITV boss Carolyn McCall told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that she first became aware of the rumors about the relationship in December 2019, two years after she joined ITV.
She ordered the investigation after Schofield admitted he had lied to cover up his affair.
The boss said the TV star had been questioned about the widespread rumours, but admitted she had not launched an official investigation.
Dame Carolyn denied the affair was an “open secret” on ITV.
ITV chairman Andy Costlett said today: “The KC audit clearly shows that considerable effort was made by ITV management to establish the truth about the alleged relationship between PS and Person X following media speculation.
“However, no concerns were reported and in the face of denials from the individuals involved, ITV was unable to uncover the relevant evidence until PS’s confession at the end of May 2023.
“KC makes it clear that senior management at ITV and the senior team at This Morning were unaware of the nature of the relationship until PS’s statement in May 2023.
“We also asked KC to review how we treated Person X and KC found that the company provided him with significant support.”
STARS QUESTIONED
Mr. Cosslett added that “in the observed period there were no findings of toxic culture, and was there [she] so he would say”.
Speaking after the review was published, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the CMS board, said: “It is encouraging that ITV is succeeding largely in dealing with complaints, but the Review’s recommendations show that there is a need for ITV to do much more to encourage people to speak up and support younger staff .
“It’s not enough to have policies and procedures: staff, especially junior staff, need to know they are safe to use. I look forward to hearing more from ITV as it works to build this open culture across the organisation.”
“New initiatives, such as the recommended Talent Charter, are a step in the right direction to address the power imbalance.
“The establishment of the Creative Industries Standards Authority (CIISA) provides an opportunity for ITV and the media as a whole to bring about change in an industry which is so often the subject of stories of bullying, harassment and other inappropriate behaviour.”
The investigation began in June and was supposed to last 12 weeks.
However, it was revealed in September that the findings would be delayed.
The inquiry is said to have seen Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary interviewed along with Holly Willoughby.
But the stars are not mentioned once in the report.
In June, a source told The Sun on Sunday: “The investigation will speak to everyone involved.
“It will focus on what happened before and after he got his first work experience on set this morning.
“And they will also try to determine who knew what and when.
“As well as talking to current staff, they will also be calling on former employees to come forward.”
‘DEEPLY INAPPROPRIATE’
Schofield left This Morning earlier this year when it emerged he had lied about a relationship with a runner nearly 30 years his junior.
Dame Carolyn was called to the Commons to give evidence about the scandal, along with ITV chief executive Kevin Lyga and barrister Kyla Mullins.
She called the relationship “deeply inappropriate” and said only “ongoing audits” had taken place. None of them established all the facts, she added.
Schofield and the runner – identified only as Person X – both “vehemently denied” any affair.
Person X was asked 12 times, including twice in the presence of HR staff.
When asked if ITV pressured him to keep quiet, Dame Carolyn said: “I want to be clear that it was Phillip who pressured him – not ITV.
“They are two very different things.”
ITV chief executive Kevin Lygo said he confronted Schofield in February 2022 when he appeared on This Morning and resigned in May.
He added: “He looked me in the eye and promised me there was no truth in the rumors about this relationship. Since it was confirmed by person X, I trusted him and I trusted his agent.
“Then two days later, he comes out and says, ‘No, that’s a lie.'”
Timeline
2017: Phillip Scofield and the runner share a “consensual moment” in his locker room
17 April 2023: Schofield returns to This Morning after his brother Tim was convicted of sexual assault – but Holly is missing.
May 10: The Sun exclusively reveals Schofield and Holly are barely on speaking terms after insiders said their relationship had “chilled”.
May 11: Schofield breaks his silence and calls Holly his “rock” in an attempt to mend their broken relationship.
May 15: The daytime TV couple are said to be “fighting” – after their on-screen chemistry appears to have fizzled.
20 May: Phillip announces he will be stepping down from his role on This Morning
21 May: Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond switch pairings on This Morning
May 22: The pair pay tribute to Schofield on air – labeling him “one of the best live TV broadcasters”
May 26: Schofield admits he had an affair with a “much younger man” – and announces he is stepping down from ITV
May 27: ITV says it investigated “relationship rumours” between Schofield and a younger female employee – but the couple “repeatedly denied” the affair. Then, Holly also accuses Schofield of lying to her about the affair
May 28: Former This Morning doctor Ranj Singh claims “the problems with This Morning go way beyond” Schofield
May 29: Minutes before the start of This Morning, Schofield lashed out at “the same handful of people who are upset with me or the show” – seeing former co-star Eamonn Holmes hit back
30 May: Phillip Schofield is sacked as Prince’s Trust ambassador. It is understood separately that ITV bosses are due to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee
31 May: Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are revealed to be auditioning alongside Holly Willoughby and the rest of the show’s host list
June 1: Schofield exclusively tells The Sun she feels “absolutely devastated and embarrassed” by the affair
June 6: Returning to the This Morning sofa after a two-week absence, Willoughby told viewers she felt “shaken, upset, let down” after revelations about Schofield’s affair, which led to his departure. The ITV boss was grilled over his row with Phillip Schofield and was mocked by the MP who quotes Holly and asks ‘are you ok?’
October 10: Holly Willoughby quits This Morning job, says ‘for me and my family’
December 7: An ITV review is released – revealing that only one other person knew about the affair
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