ITV 'refusing to pay for costly private therapy for Phillip Schofield's former lover', as This Morning row rumbles on

19 June 2023, 09:01 | Updated: 19 June 2023, 09:02

Phillip Schofield's former lover has reportedly not been offered the therapy package he wanted
Phillip Schofield's former lover has reportedly not been offered the therapy package he wanted. Picture: Alamy

By Kit Heren

ITV have been accused of being hypocritical in a row over the former lover of ex-This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Schofield quit the show last month after it emerged he had lied about a "consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague".

The former host was offered an exit package that included a therapy offer.

But when his ex-lover, known only as Person X, asked for the same therapy deal, he was given a more basic offer, which he refused.

A source told the Sun: "ITV appear to be slightly hypocritical in their approach to Phil and the runner, who they now call Person X.

"Phil was told ITV would pay for any therapy.

"But Person X has said that he was only offered ITV’s basic package — which he turned down.

"It seems pretty dismal in light of what has gone on that they wouldn’t offer to pay for a private package."

ITV said: “We are offering duty of care support to both Phillip ­Schofield and Person X."

Phillip Schofield's relationship 'deeply inappropriate' says ITV boss

It comes after ITV's boss Dame Carolyn McCall told MPs last week that Phillip Schofield's relationship with the runner was "deeply inappropriate" because of the "imbalance of power".

But there had been no evidence of the affair and it was "repeatedly denied by both individuals", she said.

Nobody on the show's team said they had any knowledge of it either.

Read more: ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall says Schofield affair 'deeply inappropriate' as she's grilled by MPs

MPs on the culture committee grilled Dame Carolyn after the fallout from the Schofield saga led to accusations of "toxic" culture at the daytime programme.

She said she looked into rumours of Schofield's relationship in December 2019, and things "got really febrile" after he came out in February 2020.

Dame Carolyn said "people who said they knew would only have heard rumours about it" and had they come forward and said there is evidence "we would have been able to launch a formal investigation".

Listen and subscribe to Unprecedented: Inside Downing Street on Global Player

Phillip Schofield's relationship 'deeply inappropriate' says ITV boss

She went on: "Because the imbalance of power, the imbalance of dynamics in that relationship, makes it deeply inappropriate, and we have policies that say that very clearly.

"One of the things I hope you'll see as we go through this is that we worked very, very hard for many months until recently to ask people... if they knew something was going on.

"And it was repeatedly denied by both individuals, but also no-one in the team ever said there was anything that they could say.

Read more: Holly Willoughby 'vows to never publicly address Phillip Schofield scandal again' after backlash from This Morning statement

"In fact, most of them said 'we don't know what's going on'."

Schofield, 61, quit This Morning after a rift emerged with co-host Holly Willoughby.

After an awkward week of presenting it together, he left, then admitted he had lied to her and ITV about his relationship.

He was also dropped by his talent agency YMU as he described the relationship as "unwise but not illegal".

Claims about Schofield's relationship put the spotlight on This Morning and ITV
Claims about Schofield's relationship put the spotlight on This Morning and ITV. Picture: Alamy

Dr Ranj Singh, who used to regularly appear on This Morning, said there were other issues apart from Schofield and he took his concerns to ITV chiefs.

ITV said an external review did not find any evidence of bullying or discrimination.

Read more: Tearful Holly Willoughby says she's been 'let down' by Phillip Schofield's lies as she returns to This Morning

But that has not stopped others including Eamonn Holmes, a former co-host on the show, hitting out about alleged problems.

Dame Carolyn, ITV's chief executive, was quizzed alongside Kevin Lygo, the managing director for media and entertainment, and Kyla Mullins, ITV's general counsel and company secretary.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Gunner Beck

Women in Army subjected to 'disgusting' comments from male colleagues amid misogynistic culture, inquest hears

The aircraft can be seen upside down, with its wheels in the air, and the area thick with snow

Emergency crews responding to plane crash in Toronto as several injured

Paula Miluska had started working from home in November 2022 due to her pregnancy illness

Woman awarded £93k payout after boss fires her for morning sickness by sending jazz hands emoji

c

Britain must take a ‘leading responsibility’ for peace in Ukraine, says PM as he calls for US ‘security guarantee’

Andrew Tate is facing allegations of trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering

Trump team 'pressuring Romania to lift restrictions on Andrew Tate'

Skyrora, a rocket company with its headquarters in Edinburgh

Scottish company promises to blast rockets into space from 2026

A petition calling for major driving licence changes has received almost 100,000 signatures

Petition calls for ban on newly-qualified drivers carrying passengers under 25

The Princess of Wales has shares portraits drawn by her three children during the half-term break.

Princess of Wales shares heartwarming portraits drawn by George, Charlotte and Louis - but who drew who?

Double Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas will retire from cycling this year.

Tour de France winner and double Olympic champion Geraint Thomas to retire from cycling at end of season

A 13-year-old boy has died and five others have been arrested following  a car crash on A672 Oldham Road.

Boy, 13, dies and five others arrested as Vauxhall Corsa spins off road in horror car crash

Lisa Smith, 43, was named by Kent Police

Pictured: Mother-of-two shot dead at pub on Valentine's Day - as police search river Thames for partner

Julia Wandelt who has claimed to be Madeleine McCann

Woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann releases bombshell new DNA test results

Pope Francis will need to remain in hospital with a respiratory tract infection

Pope to remain in hospital with infection as doctors tackle 'complex clinical picture'

One lucky punter scooped £65m on the EuroMillions

Lucky UK ticket-holder claims £65m Valentine's Day EuroMillions jackpot

A life-drawing class that has been running for over 30 years has been told its models must cover-up or find a new venue.

Models at life drawing class in posh London neighbourhood told to cover up over child 'safeguarding' concerns

Exclusive
An investigation by LBC can reveal there are more than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England - the equivalent of one in every 23.

More than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England as thousands left at risk of homelessness