By James Simons-
Caroline Flack’s mother made a flawed insinuation that ITV and the media would be to blame in the event either Schofield or his young lover were to commit suicide over the press coverage of the latest scandal involving the television presenter.
Christine Flack, whose late daughter previously hosted ITV’s Love Island and committed suicide said ITV had learnt nothing from her daughter’s death.
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She added that the broadcaster treated on-screen talent as “commodities” and that Schofield and the young man he had an affair with “should have been looked after”.
Christine Flack said: “He knew Caroline and I must say, when she died he was very upset. And I think he’s now realising even more what she went through. Being in the media he knew what she was going through.
“But until it happens to you, you feel sad but you don’t understand. He’s trying to put things straight. But I don’t think it will end there.
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“I hope he’s done the right thing. I hope he feels better. I hope people now will let it settle. He’s lost his job, he’s lost his world. I think that’s enough. I think that’s enough for anybody.”
Her attack seemed to be protective of the axed former television presenter who knew her late daughter, but failed to attribute full responsibility to the fact that Schofield and his lover wilfully indulged in their sexual activities, making press coverage about the affair completely appropriate in light of the affair itself.
Christine Flack said: “He knew Caroline and I must say, when she died he was very upset. And I think he’s now realising even more what she went through. Being in the media he knew what she was going through.
“But until it happens to you, you feel sad but you don’t understand. He’s trying to put things straight. But I don’t think it will end there.
“I hope he’s done the right thing. I hope he feels better. I hope people now will let it settle. He’s lost his job, he’s lost his world. I think that’s enough. I think that’s enough for anybody.”
ITV has faced a barrage of attacks over the affair, and its boss, Carolyn McCall, is to face a grilling over the scandal from the UK’s influential Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) next week over the Phillip Schofield scandal
It comes after former This Morning presenter Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV last week after admitting he had lied to the broadcaster, his colleagues and agency about an “unwise but not illegal relationship” with a younger male colleague at the daytime programme.
She told BBC Two’s Newsnight: “I know it’s a lovely job and they earn money. But also the television stations earn money from them … they’re not commodities, they’re people. I hate the thought that Phillip and this young man are going through such an awful time.
“It’s bad enough when it’s in private, but when it’s in every single paper and first thing on the news, it’s just ridiculous. Wait to see what happens. Let’s hope for the best. I send my regards to Phillip and the young lad, and hope they get over this. Don’t do anything silly.”
The ITV boss, Carolyn McCall, has been called to a parliamentary committee on 14 June to answer questions about the broadcaster’s approach to safeguarding and complaint handling after Schofield’s exit.
Caroline Flack was found dead in her east London flat in February 2020 at the age of 40.
A coroner ruled she killed herself after learning prosecutors were going to press ahead with an assault charge after an incident involving her boyfriend Lewis Burton.
In an interview Schofield gave to the BBC’s Amol Rajan on Friday, he said he understood how Flack had felt, saying: “If my daughters hadn’t been there, then I wouldn’t be here.”
He said his daughters, Ruby and Molly, “guarded me and won’t let me out of their sight”.
Christine Flack told Newsnight: “He knew Caroline and I must say, when she died, he was very upset. And I think he’s now realising even more what she went through. Being in the media, he knew what she was going through.
“But until it happens to you, you feel sad but you don’t understand. He’s trying to put things straight. But I don’t think it will end there. I hope he’s done the right thing. I hope he feels better. I hope people now will let it settle. He’s lost his job, he’s lost his world. I think that’s enough. I think that’s enough for anybody.”
In Friday’s interview with the BBC, Schofield admitted his career in television was over and spoke about the “relentless” coverage he had faced in the press and with online speculation.
Caroline’s mother said it was “exactly” how her daughter, who faced a barrage of negative media coverage before her death, felt about her own situation.
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