‘I work with a fantastic team’
This Morning chief says ‘scores are being settled’
with a fantastic team.” This Morning’s former resident doctor, Dr Ranj Singh, previously hit out at a “toxic” culture on the show.
He claimed he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” two years ago when he worked there and felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.
ITV boss Carolyn Mccall said in a letter on Wednesday that an external review conducted following a complaint made by Dr Ranj found “no evidence of bullying or discrimination”.
She has been called to a parliamentary committee on June 14 to answer questions about ITV’S safeguarding and complaint handling following Schofield’s exit.
On Wednesday, she confirmed ITV had instructed barrister Jane Mulcahy, of Blackstone Chambers, to carry out an external review of the facts.
Meanwhile, Eamonn Holmes, who presented This Morning on Fridays with wife Ruth Langsford until 2020, accused Schofield of “toxicity” in an interview on GB News earlier this week.
Mr Frizell said: “All I want to say is, I am working with a fantastic team of mainly women, many mums, a lot of them concerned for their jobs, although we’ve told them not to be.”
Schofield, 61, said he was “utterly broken and ashamed” but denied he had “groomed” the younger man.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can freephone the Samaritans 24 hours a day for confidential support at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans. org.
Meanwhile, rival TV bosses have stepped up their campaign to woo Holly Willoughby... swooping while ITV is engulfed in scandal.
Top executives are plotting new shows for the host of This Morning and one chief contacted her directly within the past few days.
The timing was significant – as the storm over her former co-host Phillip Schofield hit new heights.
Holly, 42, built up a good relationship with BBC bosses while presenting ice challenge show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof last year.
And their new bid to lure her came amid revelations that an external investigation would probe safeguarding at ITV in the wake of Phillip’s affair with a younger colleague.
The latest move for Holly – who was set to return home last night after a family break – came after Beeb bosses held high-level talks about projects they could offer her.
A source said yesterday: “Holly has had a good relationship and an open dialogue with BBC bosses since she hosted Freeze the Fear.
“Ever since then they have been keen to sign her up for another project and have bent over backwards to offer her other opportunities.
“So the ongoing drama at ITV has played into their hands. The bosses have had conversations this week about what they could offer her going forward. “And one executive reached out to her directly earlier in the week. “Holly was still away on holiday at the time. But she really values her relationship with the BBC and the friendships she has built up there.” News of the BBC approach came as the British Soap Awards – which Phillip, 61, was to have hosted – went ahead last night. Singer Jane Mcdonald stepped in to present the glittering event, which goes out on ITV on Tuesday. Phillip agreed to quit This Morning last month as a rift between him and Holly deepened. He quit ITV altogether after admitting to an affair with a male colleague more than 30 years his junior. Holly – who co-hosted Freeze the Fear with Lee Mack – was on holiday in the Algarve as the ITV crisis reached fever pitch last week.
She has close ties with a number of BBC execs. Chief content officer Charlotte Moore is a friend and they were pictured socialising together at last year’s Variety showbusiness awards.
Holly and TV executive husband Dan Baldwin have also become close to Kalpna Patel-knight, who was given a new BBC role of head of entertainment commissioning last year. It was Kalpna who offered Holly the job of hosting the BBC’S revamp of Survivor earlier this year – which she turned down after it clashed with her This Morning schedule. The role went to another ITV talent, The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett.
But the dialogue between Holly and Kalpna has continued. And they are understood to have had multiple conversations since This Morning was plunged into chaos.
The source went on: “If somehow This Morning does survive, losing Holly would be an absolute hammer blow.”
One insider said: “You can’t underestimate the impact this scandal has had on the team behind the show. It has been absolutely seismic.”
Holly is expected back on the sofa at This Morning tomorrow, alongside
Josie Gibson. But her return comes as the future of the show – and that of executives Carolyn Mccall, Kevin Lygo, Emma Gormley and Martin Frizell – hangs in the balance, amid claims of a “culture of toxicity”. Frizell has denied the claims.
On Friday’s show, host Alison Hammond welled up as she spoke about Phillip’s first interview and referred to the This Morning “family”.
Emotional Phillip had said he deeply regretted the affair, and admitted he knew his career was over. He said he had kept it secret from everyone at ITV – including bosses and, not least, former best pal Holly.
An ITV spokesman did not respond to a request to comment.
The BBC declined to comment.
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The row at This Morning plays into the hands of BBC executives