This Morning boss claims ex-stars are taking revenge amid 'toxic' culture accusations
Phillip Schofield released a statement on his departure from ITV last weekend
PA
This Morning editor Martin Frizell has suggested that former stars of the show are "settling scores" after ITV was hit with "toxic" claims.
He has spoken out after Phillip Schofield's departure from ITV after he admitted to a workplace relationship.
Several of This Morning’s former presenters have accused the show of having a "toxic" culture, including GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes and Dr Ranj Singh.
Schofield revealed that he had an affair with a much younger man at the programme, who he first met when the teenager was just 15.
This Morning editor Martin Frizell has suggested that former stars of the show are 'settling scores'
Sky News
TV medic Singh claimed he was "used less and less" on the show after raising concerns with the broadcaster’s bosses, while Holmes called This Morning’s management "toxic".
When asked about allegations of a toxic culture at This Morning Frizell told Sky News: "To read between the lines, I think there's some scores being settled."
Speaking on Saturday morning, he also denied he was "concerned" about an external review into ITV after MPs and industry figures raised concerns around safeguarding.
He said: "We're looking forward to speaking to the KC - she's very, very learned.
"She'll get to the bottom [of it]. If there are questions to be answered, I'm sure she will find those answers."
It comes after Schofield revealed that he is “utterly broken and ashamed” but stressed he did not groom a younger male colleague.
The former This Morning presenter said he has "massive guilt and regret" after admitting to a relationship which took place while he was still married to wife Stephanie Lowe and before he came out publicly as gay.
Frizell said he worked with "mainly mums" and they were fearing for their jobs in the wake of the scandal although he had reassured them.
He added: "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."
Eamonn Holmes has hit out at his former colleague Phillip Schofield
GB NewsFormer This Morning stars have been outspoken critics of the show over recent weeks, including Holmes who blasted Schofield during an exclusive GB News interview with Dan Wootton, saying the whole saga made him feel "used".
Speaking on GB News, Holmes said: “It was all a bit weird. At that stage though, I believed he was gay and that's what was coming out and that was the information we were given.
“We were lied to. Ruth and I to this day are embarrassed and ashamed when we see those pictures, when we see the toils that some people who are tortured by their sexuality have to go through and this man was using this as a cover-up for something else.
“So we feel angry about that, we feel used.”