This Morning hosts ‘threaten to quit’ after Phillip Schofield’s affair
This Morning presenters have reportedly threatened to quit after Phillip Schofield’s affair with a younger male ITV colleague came to light.
On Friday, the presenter, 61, quit ITV with immediate effect after admitting to cheating on wife Stephanie with the man, while admitting to cheating on his ITV staff and colleagues about his affair.
It is now said that This Morning could cope as senior bosses such as CEO Carolyn McCall’s job could be in jeopardy as the program comes under pressure to reveal what they knew about Phil’s affair with the young runner.
Some presenters have even threatened to quit amid the toxic fallout – with a well-known name already issuing a statement of resignation after Schofield’s confession.
A source told The sun: ‘The future of the show hangs in the balance and the presenting talent is uncertain about their next move – they’re deciding whether to jump off a sinking ship.
Uh-oh: This Morning presenters reportedly threatened to quit after Phillip Schofield’s affair with a younger male ITV colleague came to light
“The entire senior team of This Morning is in full damage control mode and worried about the presenters potentially walking out.
“Phillip no doubt thinks he has tried to do the right thing, but the overwhelming feeling on set is that procedures need to be put in place to ensure that the same mistakes never happen again.
“Some presenters feel the saga has left too much toxicity around the show, it can’t survive and they’re thinking about their future”
It is feared that the show’s other regulars – besides presenters such as Alison Hammond, Holly Willoughby and Rochelle Humes – may also quit.
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘As we said on record earlier today, This Morning is not being rated and there are no plans to ax the show. This Morning returns on Monday.’
They also said earlier in the day: ‘Following our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumors of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an ITV employee first started circulating in early 2020, ITV were investigating.
Both sides were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumors, as did Phillip’s then agency, YMU.
‘Additionally, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning who were not given any evidence of a relationship beyond rumor and rumor.
“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he has lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others about this relationship.”
They added, “This Morning will not be judged and the show will return on Monday.”
On Friday, Phillip admitted in a lengthy statement that he had had an affair with a younger male colleague, which he said was “unwise but not illegal,” in which he also apologized to his wife and family.
Brutal: Some presenters have even threatened to quit amid the toxic fallout – with a well-known name already issuing a statement of resignation after Schofield’s confession
Meanwhile, a source told The Sun: ‘The future of the show is hanging in the balance and the presenting talent are uncertain about their next move’
The “ill-advised” relationship took place during his nearly 30-year marriage to wife Stephanie, 59, and Phillip said he was “so sorry” about being unfaithful.
Stephanie, who shares two children Ruby, 27, and Molly, 29, with Phillip, issued a statement when her husband came out as gay in a touching This Morning segment in 2020.
Phillip quit his This Morning hosting duties last weekend after more than 20 years on the air before confirming the affair in a statement to the Daily Mail on Friday.
He has also resigned from ITV and will not present the British Soap Awards. He has also been dropped “effective immediately” by his agents at YMU.
In a statement, the former ITV presenter said: “I am making this statement through the Daily Mail, to whom I have already personally apologized for being misled, through my lawyer who I have also misled, about a story [sic] that they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
“The first thing I want to say is, I am deeply sorry that I lied to them and to many others about a relationship I had with someone who worked on This Morning.
“I did have a consensual on and off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
Contrary to speculation, while I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him get on television, it wasn’t until after he started working on the show that it became more than just a friendship.
That relationship was ill-advised, but not illegal. It’s over now…
“I am painfully aware that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore to the public and especially my family. I am very sorry, just like that I have been unfaithful to my wife…
“I resign from ITV with immediate effect and express my immense gratitude to them for all the wonderful opportunities they have given me.
“I will reflect on my very poor judgment in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.”
Following his statement, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply disappointed by Phillip Schofield’s admissions of cheating tonight.
“The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Philip gave us assurances which he now admits were untrue and we feel very let down.
Admission: Phillip confessed to having an ‘ill-advised but not illegal’ romance with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe, previously denying the affair when asked by his agent
Bookmakers Coral placed Joel, 37, host of The Masked Singer UK, at 1/2 chance to host the Soap Awards, closely followed by This Morning’s Dermot, 50, at 5/2.
Other presenters in the running are according to Coral Bradley Walsh, Alison Hammond and Vernon Kay.
Coral’s John Hill said: ‘Joel Dommett is at the top of our bet to replace Philip Schofield as host of the British Soap Awards 2023. ITV probably sees him as the perfect fit as he is now one of the channel’s most popular presenters.
“Dermot O’Leary and Vernon Kay are both names that have received a lot of support, while Mo Giligan could be in the mix after his experience at the Brit Awards.”