‘Scores are being settled,’ says defiant editor at the centre of Schofield saga
THE editor of This Morning has accused critics of score settling, as he defended the show following the Phillip Schofield scandal.
A defiant Martin Frizell denied claims of a “toxic” culture at the ITV programme and described sustained media scrutiny as “tiring” for staff.
The comments follow mounting pressure on senior executives to explain what they knew of Schofield’s affair with the much younger colleague, which the presenter described as “unwise” but “not illegal”.
Schofield left the show a fortnight ago and last week described his TV career as “over”, suggesting he had considered suicide over the backlash.
It comes as the chair of the culture, media and sport committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, accused ITV of “lurching from one disaster to another” in the wake of the scandal.
Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV’s chief executive, is due to be questioned by MPs on committee on June 14.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Frizell, 64, sought to shift the focus on to critics of the show.
Asked if he recognised claims that its culture was or had been toxic, he said: “You’ve got to read between the lines. I think there are some scores being settled.”
Dr Ranj Singh, a former regular contributor, used the word to describe his experiences, while former co-presenter Eamonn Holmes has also said that a “toxic” culture left staff terrified, a claim dismissed by Schofield.
Last week, bosses sought to defuse criticism by commissioning a top KC, Jane Mulcahy, to conduct an independent review, which could see Holly Willoughby – Schofield’s former co-star – Mr Frizell and more senior executives questioned, as well as Schofield’s former lover.
Described by insiders as “determined to be famous”, he left the TV industry with a reported payout from ITV in 2020, and now helps run a pub.
The Sunday Telegraph has discovered that the youth theatre group where Schofield met the then 15-year-old shut down in 2020. Schofield admitted in an interview that the affair started when he kissed the young man in his ITV dressing room in 2017.
ITV insiders said the junior employee was not treated like a normal runner, and had unprecedented access to Schofield, Willoughby and celebrity guests.
Mr Frizell told Sky News: “There will be lots of time when this is all over to go through who did what, when, why.
We’re looking forward to talking to the KC. She will find those answers.” He added: I’m working with a fantastic team of mainly women, many mums. A lot of them are concerned for their jobs, although we’ve told them not to be. But this is the 23rd day now of being on the front page and it’s tiring. I just think they need a bit of respite now.”
Last Monday, Holmes alleged that there was a “total cover-up” on This Morning over Schofield’s affair, claiming that “those in authority” had to have known what was going on.
Willoughby, who has been on holiday in Portugal for much of the past two weeks, is due to present the show tomorrow. Speaking to GB News, Dame Caroline said ITV “does not have a very good track record” of duty of care towards staff and compliant handling, referencing Love Island, Caroline Flack and The Jeremy Kyle Show.
“The public must have confidence in broadcasters to make sure that they are robustly safeguarding the interests of their staff,” she said, adding: “They seem to be lurching from one tragic disaster to another and I do feel it’s time Carolyn McCall came before the committee and answered a few questions.”
Dame Carolyn said in a letter last week that ITV had been supporting its former runner.
‘You’ve got to read between the lines. I think there are some scores being settled’