TV has said it investigated “rumours” of an affair between Phillip Schofield and a younger employee but it was repeatedly denied by the pair.
Schofield, 61, quit ITV on Friday after admitting to an affair with a younger male employee at the corporation whilst still married to his wife of 30 years.
The former This Morning presenter said it had been an “unwise, but not illegal” affair and that he had lied to ITV about the relationship with the ex-colleague.
ITV said it was “not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour” when it looked into the matter in 2020.
Adding: “ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated
“Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.
“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”
More to follow…
