Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary defend This Morning against ‘toxicity’ claims
ALISON Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have defended This Morning against “toxicity” claims as they returned to host the crisis-hit show.
Despite This Morning being splashed across most of today’s national newspapers, the daytime presenters went ahead with an in-depth look at the biggest stories of the day.
The Friday hosts kicked off a newspaper review with a toe-curling side note after Phillip Schofield’s affair with a younger colleague was exposed.
Addressing the elephant in the room before kicking off This Morning View at the start of the programme, Dermot said: “We all know we happen to be in the news at the moment and of course we appreciate that.
“But just from both of us, the crew and the whole team downstairs, we love making this show for you.”
Alison cut in, to add: “Yes, we really do and that’s exactly what we’re going to do, we’re going to continue doing that. Let’s go on with our first news story.”
Newspaper review guest Gyles Brandreth made his view clear, telling the hosts: “We’re very happy to be here, can I say that?
“This is a happy place to work, I enjoy coming in here.
“We are happy people in a happy place with interesting stories.”
It follows Dr Ranj’s explosive rant about the show, slamming the “toxic” culture of bullying at This Morning, where he worked for ten years.
It’s also been claimed that eight of ITV stars complained about Phillip’s behaviour to top ITV bosses back in 2019.
He has only now left the famous sofa after his brother Tim was outed as a paedo and he fell out with his co-host Holly Willoughby.
Phil had planned to make a return to ITV for the soap awards this week, but pulled out after a bombshell revelation about an affair he had with a teen colleague while he was married.
After Schofield admitted the “consensual on-off relationship”, which he “lied” about for years, Holly, 42, and ITV were quick to release statements saying they had been deceived.
Meanwhile Dr Ranj claimed that he “raised concerns” about Phillip and show producer Martin Frizell before being used “less and less” as a guest.
“I was on the show for ten years and I genuinely loved and valued working there,” Dr Ranj said.
“However, over time I grew increasingly worried about how things were behind-the-scenes and how people, including myself, were being treated.
“I didn’t know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with This Morning go far beyond him. It takes more than one person to create a culture.
“So I did what I thought was right and, as ITV confirmed last night, I raised my concerns about Martin’s behaviour (and the environment at TM) with Emma Gormley [managing director] especially given that my job is to look after people’s well being and I had been heavily involved in diversity, anti-bullying and mental health projects across the channel.
“I then found myself being used less and less.”
However ITV said yesterday they investigated claims into Phillip’s affair with the boy – but the probe found no evidence “beyond hearsay and rumour”.
Blasting Phil a liar, a spokesperson said both parties denied the rumours of a fling.
ITV also said no one employed on the daytime show This Morning knew of the affair as Schofield “lied” to everyone.
A spokesperson said: “Further to our statement last night, 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.”