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ITV bosses make HUGE changes to This Morning as they ban under 18s from working at show after scandal
Channel chiefs are keen to learn from previous lessons and ensure everyone feels safe in the work environment
ITV has made some huge changes to This Morning after last year's scandal, one of which sees under 18s forbidden from working on the show.
The Sun has learnt bosses are barring minors from being employed at the channel altogether, while making it harder for staff to help out friends and family members under a 'nepotism ban'.
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These changes have come into force after Phillip Schofield, 62, confessed he'd been lying about having an affair with a younger member of the production crew in May 2023.
The runner, who was at least 30 years Schofield's junior, started at ITV in 2017 following Phil's recommendation, with the presenter admitting they shared a moment in his dressing room that same year.
Ex daytime host Phil subsequently left the station and refused to take part in an ITV probe into the relationship, as well as a parliamentary inquiry.
With the new orders presently in effect, a source has told how channel chiefs are keen to learn from previous lessons and ensure everyone feels safe in the work environment.
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The insider said: "ITV doesn’t want anything like the Schofield scandal happening again so they're tightening their policies big-time.
"They're making it tougher for friends and family members of senior employees to get a job here so that there's no suggestion of nepotism - or anything else.
"One producer's son is working as a runner but is only allowed to do it because he's based in a different department.
"The rules are now whiter than white about hiring. No more 16 or 17 year olds anymore, either. It's 18 and over."
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In fact, it appears ITV was hiring teenagers even younger, with outdated careers sites advertising a weeklong Experience Programme targeted towards 14-17 year olds.
While their Apprenticeship Programme is still running, the 16+ age requirement has now been bumped up to 18, as stated on the official web page.
Last year, it was revealed that staffers were to declare all workplace relationships too.
ITV declined to comment when contacted by The Sun.
Phil left the limelight following his only interview after the scandal.
He told us about his regret over his affair and said he would “die sorry” for his actions.
Phil separated from his wife of 27 years Stephanie in 2020 after coming out as gay.
Despite his affair admission, the couple — who have two grown-up daughters — remain close, with friends saying Stephanie has been supportive of him.
However, Phil’s relationship with Holly Willoughby is finished, with the scandal rocking the ITV daytime show.
Phil added in his interview: “I’ve lost my best friend. I let her down. I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down.
"Holly did not know [about the romance]. And she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say, ‘I am so, so sorry that I lied to you’.
“She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply, as well.”
Phil has remained friendly with others at ITV, with Stephen Mulhern remaining in contact with him alongside a raft of other big names including Declan Donnelly.
Insiders said Phil was also still close with a number of producers and crew members from the show.
Following his exit last year, bosses conducted an internal investigation into claims of a “toxic culture” on This Morning.
Their report stated that of the 48 people who spoke to barrister Jane Mulcahy, only one knew of the affair.
The review also found that ITV made “considerable efforts” to find out the truth about the relationship but was “unable to uncover the relevant evidence” until Phil spoke about it publicly.
In her report, Jane Mulcahy KC said: “I have no doubt senior management are absolutely wedded to the importance of an open culture.
“But this culture is still not filtering down to junior employees, many of whom remain convinced that to speak out will have a detrimental impact on their careers.”
Holly later stepped down from This Morning following an alleged kidnap plot against her.
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In December, The Sun was the first to reveal how Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd had been officially drafted in to replace them.
However, ratings have not recovered since the Holly and Phil fallout and have dipped to around 650,000 per episode.
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