ITV director Kevin Lygo beamed for an Ascot selfie with Josie Gibson, Amanda Holden, Charlene White and Jonathan Ross despite criticism over the handling of the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Veteran presenter Phillip quit ITV after admitting to dating a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning, later lying about it to cover it up. He broke out of cover for the first time in a month today to celebrate his mother’s birthday – after discussing his affair in two public interviews.
The inappropriate relationship sparked serious questions about how much ITV bosses knew – and the network’s chief Dame Carolyn McCall admitted last week that she had not launched a formal investigation when rumors of the affair surfaced.
But Ms McCall’s colleague, Mr Lygo, appeared to have moved on from the grilling of the couple’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee at Westminster when he posed for a photo opportunity on day two of Ascot showcasing past and present of This Morning hosts Josie and Amanda.
Broadcaster Jonathan Ross, whose iconic talk show also runs on ITV, was also featured in Josie’s selfie during the races, as was Loose Women presenter Charlene White.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo (right) beamed today for an Ascot selfie with Josie Gibson, Amanda Holden, Jonathan Ross and Charlene White
Mr Lygo (right) was seemingly in good spirits a week after ITV’s grilling at Westminster over how it handled the Phillip Schofield scandal
Josie Gibson (left) appeared at the racecourse on behalf of This Morning, while former daytime TV show host Amanda Holden (right) also attended
Former Big Brother star Josie, who has blasted toxic TV culture amid the ongoing ITV scandal, sat next to Phillips co-host of 14 years Holly Willoughby when she returned to the This Morning couch on June 5.
The Bristolian presenter, 38, gave Holly a big hug when she first addressed the Schofield scandal.
Mr Lygo, director of television at ITV, appeared to be brushing aside the scandal at Ascot – just a week after launching an extraordinary response to criticism from former stars such as Eamonn Holmes at last week’s ITV grill.
He accused the GB News presenter of bitterness after being suspended from This Morning after 15 years on the bench.
He said: “There are quite a few people, who now have a platform with a show elsewhere or a newspaper column, or just on Twitter, who are taking a big step.
‘I noticed recently that these people have worked as presenters on ITV for a very long time, some for over a decade.
“There was never a complaint from them when they were there, if they wanted anything it was ‘more work please, we love it here, can we do more’.”
Director Kevin Lygo was one of three broadcasting bosses grilled by the Committee on Culture, Media and Sport in the wake of Schofield’s departure last week
Phillip Schofield has broken cover for the first time in a month since his devastating This Morning scandal – he looked healthier as he celebrated his beloved mum’s birthday
Program presenters often have a slight sense of divine right to stay there forever.
“ITV as a business and program producers may have a different agenda, wanting to change and innovate, wanting to bring in new people and so on.
“It’s only real – and that’s why I feel sympathy for them – when you have to have the difficult conversation of ‘Thanks so much, it was very good, but really we’d like you to do less’.
But Mr Lygo showed no sign of bitterness towards Amanda Holden as the pair smiled together on an eventful second day of Ascot – while King Charles and the royals also converged for the jewel in the crown of the racing calendar.
Amanda, who posted a strongman emoji in what appeared to be a celebration just minutes after Phillip left ITV, was recently forced to come out and deny reports that she had a feud with Holly.
In a lengthy statement on her Instagram page, Amanda addressed reports that she and Holly were going head to head for various jobs, and their rivalry bubbled to the surface in the wake of Phillip’s fling.
“Unfortunately, strong and intelligent women have been pitted against each other for far too long when we should each be celebrated in our own way,” Amanda wrote.
“Women are still expected to say nothing, suffer in silence and just carry on. And we do… usually.
‘Bring it in!’: Josie Gibson showed her support for the emotional Holly Willoughby on This Morning with a big hug after addressing the Phillip Schofield scandal
Firm friends: Holly and Josie held hands before hugging during This Morning’s difficult opener
Phillip pictured with former co-presenter Holly Willoughby on This Morning on May 16 before suddenly stepping down
In fact, Amanda was involved in a feud with Holly’s co-star Phillip that started in 2018 when she claimed he sabotaged her chance to fill in for Holly as the host of This Morning.
According to The Sun, Amanda is said to have said she felt “abandoned” by her boyfriend Phillip when she found out she didn’t get the part on the bench and it went to Rochelle Humes.
The Britain’s Got Talent star raised eyebrows this week when she mocked Holly’s return to This Morning in an Instagram video where she mimicked her opening line, “Are you OK?”
Holly returned to the show for the first time since Schofield’s departure, asking viewers, “Okay, take a deep breath.” First, are you okay? I hope so.’
Amanda posted a video to Instagram of her wearing an angelic white ensemble from Me + Em that resembled the Reiss Holly wore, saying, “Hello, it’s Tuesday. Is everything all right?’
But afterwards, a spokesperson for Amanda told MailOnline: ‘Amanda has always made it clear in the past that she has no issues with Holly. Today’s video has been taken out of context.’