By Sheila Mckenzie-
ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall has said that the relationship between Schofield and a younger staff member was “deeply inappropriate” because of the “imbalance of power”
She told the Committee that she would have taken action – but had no evidence of the relationship, and that both men “repeatedly” denied it.
Her comments are at odds with criticisms from certain quarters including Eamon Mageee that the broadcaster would have to have been aware of the relationship between Schofield and the younger man
McCall is facing questions on ITV’s approach to safeguarding and complaint handling from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
News that McCall was to testify before MPs came after ex-This Morning host Eamonn Holmes accused ITV of “covering up” for Schofield.
Carolyn McCall said that Phillip Schofield is still in contact with ITV. He is currently receiving counselling, funded by ITV, on his request.
McCall denied questioning that she ignored “shortcomings” at This Morning due to the show being “commercially successful”.
Adding that all ITV shows are commercially successful, she says that it was about handling the rumours sensitively.
“Nobody here would ever turn a blind eye to something as serious as this,” she says.
McCall admitted Schofield had assisted the young man get a job with the broadcaster, after he falsely put on his application form that he was a relative of the television presenter.
She said had the affair been admitted, it would not have been allowed because of the power imbalance, exposing the flaws in the sympathies expressed by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson who openly indicated in an article for the Times that there was nothing wrong with the relationship.
Director of ITV television, Kevin Lygo, has also been answering questions from the committee.
Asked about former ITV talent, such as Eamonn Holmes, who have spoken out in the wake of Schofield’s departure, Kevin Lygo says that such former presenters often feel they have a “divine right” to stay on the network.
“It’s not surprising, is it, that when they go, they’re like, ‘Hate ITV, it’s awful.’ When the decade they were there, they were reaping the rewards and enjoying the job and everybody seemed to get on,” he says.
Director of ITV television, Kevin Lygo, said Phillip Schofield implied he still wanted to host British Soap Awards and Dancing on Ice, days before he admitted to lying to ITV about the affair.
Lygo says Schofield “looked me in the eyes” and lied to him, then “two days later”, everything came out.
The show had also been attacked by its former resident doctor Ranj Singh hit out at a “toxic” culture, saying he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” two years ago when he worked there – and afterwards felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.
The allegations of bullying and discrimination on the show were a stain on the programme’s reputation, particularly coming from individuals who had worked with the show.
Schofield quit the broadcaster and was dropped by his talent agency after admitting the affair with a younger male colleague.
The former presenter apologised for lying repeatedly to hide the relationship, calling it “unwise but not illegal”.
Speculations have been made as to whether statements from a liar that his relationship with the man was legal should be taking as gospel, since the identity of the runner has been anonymised by the press to protect his vulnerability.