This Morning editor suggests ex-stars are taking revenge over Philip Schofield ... trends now
Editor of This Morning Martin Frizell has spoken out in the wake of Phillip Schofield's departure from ITV as he claims ex-stars of the show are 'settling scores' amid accusations of a 'toxic' work environment.
Mr Frizell made the comments as the Chair of the Culture Committee accused the channel of 'lurching from one disaster to another' in the wake of the scnadal.
Schofield quit This Morning and later ITV entirely as he admitted he had an affair with a much younger man at the programme, who he first met when the teenager was just 15.
Speaking on Saturday morning, Mr Frizell denied he was 'concerned' about an external review which is to be carried out into ITV after MPs and leading industry figures raised concerns around safeguarding.
It comes after Schofield spoke out for the first time in an interview with the BBC yesterday, in which he appeared to accept that his television career was over.
This Moring editor Martin Frizell said he is not concerned about a review into the programme to be carried out by a top barrister
Phillip Schofield resigned from ITV after being forced to admit his affair with a young male colleague at This Morning
Mr Frizell told Sky News on Saturday he is 'looking forward' to speaking to the lawyer appointed to chair the review as he accused former employees who have spoken out about a 'toxic culture' at the show of 'settling scores'.
He initially declined to answer questions about the review: 'There's lots of questions to answer but there's a KC appointed for an external review and anything we may say now could be prejudicial, so I'd rather not.
'There will be lots of time once it's all over to go through who did what, when, why, but I'd rather not just now thanks.'
But he added he is not concerned about the review: 'No, we're looking forward to speaking to the KC, she's very learned. She'll get to the bottom of the questions to be answered, I'm sure she will find those answers.
'All I want to say is I working with a fantastic team of mainly women, many mums, a lot of them concerned for their jobs although we've told them they don't need to be.
'This is the 23rd day now of being on the front page and it's tiring. They worked all through covid brilliantly, they worked all through this putting a programme out [...] and I just think they need a bit of respite now.'
When asked whether there was a toxic culture at This Morning, Mr Frizell said: 'I think you've got to read between the lines. There's some scores being settled.'
Mr Frizell said he would 'rather not' not into details around the review but said people should 'read between the lines' when considering if the show has a 'toxic' environment
Dame Caroline Dinenage has accused ITV of lurching 'from one crisis to another'
Holly Willoughby with Phil Schofield and his lover on This Morning sofa
Former This Morning presenters and stars have been outspoken critics of the show in recent weeks, with Eamonn Holmes claiming Schofield 'created an atmosphere' on the programme 'where people hated him', labelling him a 'chief narcissist' whom others wanted to avoid.
On Monday, Holmes alleged that there was a 'total cover-up' on This Morning over Schofield's affair.
He alleged that 'those in authority' had to have known what was going on.
'It's a total cover-up,' he said. 'Those in authority had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge a bullet with this.
'Which they do, and they do constantly, because with Schofield talking about those who speak out against him, namely me, Amanda
