ITV denies plans to ax Philip Schofield controversy This Morning | ITV channel

ITV has announced that there are no plans to air the This Morning show after reports that Philip Schofield could be axed from the controversy.

The broadcaster denied speculation in Sunday’s newspapers about the future of the show, with a spokesman saying: „As we said on record [on Saturday], is not in review this morning and there are no plans to cancel the show. It will be back to normal this morning [on Monday].”

Schofield, 61, resigned from the broadcaster on Friday and was dropped by her talent agency this morning after admitting to an „indiscreet, but illegal” affair with a young male colleague.

His co-presenter, Holly Willoughby, said Schofield had denied having an affair with a younger ITV colleague – and now he has admitted it is „deeply hurtful”.

He took to Instagram on Saturday to declare Schofield’s previous denials of the rumors „false.” „Taking time to process yesterday’s news,” Willoughby posted. „When the reports of this relationship first came out, I directly asked Phil if it was true and was told it wasn’t. It’s heartbreaking to now find out it’s false.

Sun on Sunday Some hosts have threatened to walk out of the controversy, with one household name reportedly drawing resignations and senior producers saying they fear the exodus of regular hosts. „The future of This Morning hangs by a thread, and there are talents uncertain about their next move,” the paper said.

While Willoughby was on two weeks off, the show continued with cover presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

The Former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries called for an investigation into the complaints made to ITV. She told the BBC’s Laura Kuensberg that Schofield’s „rather contrived apology” opened up more questions about what happened.

„We know ITV has had complaints for a long time,” he said. “What happened to those complaints? I think the show’s creator, Martin Frizzell, has some questions to answer for himself, and I’m afraid so does Holly Willoughby.

A spokesperson for ITV said on Saturday that when the matter was looked into in 2020, the broadcaster had „not been provided with and found no evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumours”.

„ITV can confirm that rumors of a relationship between Philip Schofield and an ITV employee began circulating in an ITV investigation in early 2020,” the statement said.

“Both parties questioned and categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Philip’s then agency YMU.

“Furthermore, ITV has spoken to a number of people who worked on This Morning and no evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumours, has been provided and has not been found.

„Philip’s Statement [on Friday] It reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, the media and others about the relationship.

Schofield revealed in a statement that the affair began while he was with his wife Stephanie Daily MailHe added that he was „very, very sorry” for betraying her.

Last weekend he announced he was stepping down from presenting the ITV show with „immediate effect”.

Schofield, who co-hosted Dancing on Ice with Willoughby, said she would also be pulling out of presenting the awards, her last public commitment to the British soap.

In her statement, Schofield apologized for lying about the relationship this morning. „The first thing I want to say is: I’m very sorry for lying to someone at work this morning about a relationship I had,” he said.

„I had a consensual relationship with a younger male colleague this morning.” He added: “Contrary to speculation, I met the man when I was a teenager and asked him to help me break into television, and it only became more than a friendship after he started working on the show. The relationship was imprudent, but not illegal. It’s over now. „

The statement continued: “I am painfully aware that I have lied to my bosses at ITV, my colleagues and friends, my agents, the media and the public and most importantly my family. I am very sorry for cheating on my wife.”