NO PROBE
ITV bosses finally admit they did NOT formally investigate Phillip Schofield affair & deny star’s lover got a ‘pay off’
ITV’S chief executive today admitted she did not order a formal investigation into rumours of Phillip Schofield's affair with a runner.
But during a grilling by MPs this morning, Dame Carolyn McCall denied “turning a blind eye” to speculation of the relationship.
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She insisted their relationship on This Morning was “repeatedly denied” by both the two men over the years.
When Scofield's affair was revealed last month ITV claimed to have "investigated" when rumours first swirled in 2010.
Yet in the Commons today Dame Carolyn clarified this was not a fully-fledged probe.
She said: "I've never called it an 'investigation'. I might have said "investigated".
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'We did investigate, but I wouldn't call it an "investigation" because that gives it a kind of formality and structure that, because of the rumours and because of the time period, it didn't have.'
She acknowledged that the “imbalance of power” had made the affair “deeply inappropriate” and the broadcaster would have acted if they had known.
The boss said: “There was only hearsay and rumour and speculation... Nobody on the board would have turned a blind eye to something as serious as this.”
She denied that ITV would have ever covered up the affair - and would have removed Schofield had they had solid evidence.
Dame Carolyn confirmed Schofield is "receiving counselling" since his exit and she is "very concerned" about his welfare.
She also confirmed there is "no gagging order or NDA" to stop the younger lover speaking out about the situation.
And she promised the unnamed runner had received a "pay-off" despite rumours.
Talking about those who have speculated the relationship was known about at ITV, managing director Kevin Lygo said: "A lot of these people, there is not a lot of them, but they worked as presenters on ITV for a very long time, some of them over 10 years, there was never any complaint from them while they were there. If they wanted anything it was more work please."
He continued: "It's not surprising that when they go, they're suddenly like, 'Oh it's awful' when for a decade or more they were reaping the rewards and enjoying the job and everyone seemed to get on."
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Holly Willoughby has continued as presenter of This Morning with a string of co-hosts.
The flagship daytime show has been accused of an atmosphere of "toxicity" by former contributor Dr Ranj Singh.
Asked about the claims, Dame Carolyn insisted: "We don't recognise that culture."
She said a survey of ITV daytime staff reveals 89 per cent are "proud" to work there.
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But she admitted: "Everything was not glowing but these are strong scores".
It comes after Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague on the show.
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