Eamonn Holmes has predicted there could be more scandals because Phillip Schofield was ‘fooled’ – putting ITV bosses in the firing line today – when he claimed Holly Willoughby’s This Morning career is also over.
Holmes, a former This Morning presenter, has accused ITV of a “complete cover-up” of the affair, claiming that “those in charge should have known about it” because the man was being driven back and forth in taxis between Schofield’s home and the studios for by ITV ‘.
He slammed ITV bosses for protecting Phil and Holly over the young man, saying of the company taxis that drove from the star’s home for his mistress: “You would have seen it and known it.” It’s a total cover-up . Those in charge should know. They needed to know what was going on and figured they were dodging the bullet, which they did, and they do all the time.”
Speaking to Dan Wootton at GB News, he was asked if this is the end of the scandals for Phil.
He said: “I sit and wonder why Philip Schofield made a statement to the Chron that he lied.” He lied to his agency, he lied to ITV, he lied to his colleagues, he lied. Why did he suddenly change his mind? And once you lie, you lie again. You know my dad always said you can watch out for a thief but not a liar. And you don’t know what is fact and what is fiction about him.
“I don’t think you can believe a word. Philip Schofield, if you think that about him, I think you’re a little mistaken.” He added, “Not only should Phillip go, but Holly should follow him out the door.” I don’t think you Holly ever did see you on the couch again.’
Mr Holmes’ interventions raise serious questions for Kevin Lygo, director of television at ITV, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall, head of Daytime Emma Gormley and This Morning editor Martin Frizzell.
Eamonn Holmes – who previously hosted This Morning but now works for GB News – accused ITV of a cover-up
Schofield with his former lover on the This Morning sofa
London digs: Phillip Schofield is seen arriving at his new flat in central London after announcing he was gay in 2020. Holmes claimed Schofield was taking his former lover back to another £1million flat on an exclusive block in White City, west London
Holmes also recounted how his wife Ruth Langsford (pictured far left with him, Holly Willoughby and Schofield) was still in touch with Schofield’s ex-lover, whom he described as a “lovely fellow”.
Holmes also spoke about how Thursday was known as ‘playtime’ for Schofield and his younger former partner and the pair arrived at the ITV studios in separate cars on Friday morning
Eamonn told GB News colleague Dan Wootton last night that he had decided to stand up for “people who don’t have a voice”. He revealed that the younger man, whose name Web does not give, was seriously injured by Schofield and implied he was a victim of the man he described as a “chief narcissist”.
He said: “Thursday was playing time as he and Phillip went into town and then he obviously stayed the night.” Records show he was taken the next day separately in cars paid for by ITV.
He called the younger man “loveable” and a “really good, talented bloke” and said the taxi to work on a Friday morning was part of a “cover-up” by ITV bosses. He said: “Unless Phillip paid the bills separately, but it would still have to go through accounting.”
Schofield took to social media yesterday to defend himself and the show he hosted for more than 20 years, posting on Instagram: “Now I’m not working on This Morning anymore, I’m free to say so.” hope you’ve noticed that it’s the same few people who hold grudges against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. This Morning is the best show to work on, with the best people. “In all the years I’ve worked there, there hasn’t been any toxicity.”
When Holmes appeared on Wootton’s show last night, he responded to the statement – and took a stab at Schofield’s co-host Holly Willoughby. ‘[Schofield] “was so rude,” he said. “This nonsense he wrote today about toxicity, it’s a happy place and whatever … what planet is this man on?” He created an atmosphere where people hated him, that people hated them on the Avoiding anyone in the hallway, he didn’t look at anyone, he didn’t know anyone by name. Holly doesn’t know people’s names either. “It’s legendary within the production team, how distant they are and how they just don’t care.”
Holmes claimed Schofield was taking his former lover to his £1million flat in an exclusive block of flats in White City, west London. The couple are said to have entered via an adjacent hotel to avoid any suspicion of their clandestine rendezvous.
On Friday, Schofield admitted he lied about the relationship, sending ITV into crisis and losing millions of dollars in sponsorship deals as a result.
Holmes also revealed that his wife, Ruth Langsford, was still in touch with Phil’s ex-lover, whom he described as a “lovable guy”, but added that “life is tough” for him.
Speaking of the ITV scandal, Holmes said: “It’s a total cover-up.” Those in charge should know.
“They needed to know what was going on and they figured they were dodging the bullet, which they did, and they do that all the time.”
“All I’m supposed to do here is speak for people who didn’t have a voice … I speak on their behalf.”
Web has reached out to ITV for comment.
Sources close to Schofield said of the interview last night: “Phillip isn’t doing too well at the moment.” “If Eamonn Holmes is going to be that cruel to someone in Phillip’s position, I think that says more about Eamonn than Phillip.”
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s chief executive for media and entertainment, refused to answer questions about Schofield after he was stalked down the street by a GB News producer.
Outside a station, he was asked if the affair had been covered up, but Mr Lygo walked away and told the producer: “We really have nothing more to say.”
ITV continues to insist it carried out an investigation in 2020 after rumors of Schofield’s affair with a younger male employee circulated.
The channel insists both parties were interviewed, but sources close to Schofield’s former lover said last night he was never questioned on the matter.
This Morning plunged into crisis on Friday after Phillip Schofield admitted to lying to ITV, his lawyers, talent agency and co-host Holly Willoughby about his affair with a younger employee
Holmes tweeted ahead of last night’s reveal interview, saying: “Tonight is dedicated to all my work colleagues over the years who have been scared and ignored by you and your controlling, compulsive behavior.”
Ahead of the GB News interview, Wootton, a columnist for Holmes and Mail on Sunday who also used to work for ITV, promised to tell “the real story” behind Schofield’s affair.
Holmes tweeted, “An unchallenged lie becomes truth.” Not on my watch it’s not a pip.
Timeline of the Phillip Schofield Scandal
September 2022 – Schofield and wife Willoughby face criticism for not queuing for the Queen’s state appearance. ITV insisted the two were on hand to cover the venue.
April 2023 – Phillip is absent from This Morning for two weeks while his brother Timothy, 54, faces charges of sexually abusing a teenager at Exeter Crown Court.
April 3 – Timothy Schofield is found guilty of “emotionally blackmailing” the teenager into engaging in sexual acts and watching porn with him.
May 10 – Reports surface that Schofield and Ms Willoughby “barely talk”. A day later, he issues a statement calling her “my rock.”
May 15 – The pair appear united at the presentation of ‘This Morning,’ but rumors of a feud linger. They reportedly had a falling out over Schofield not informing them of his brother’s trial.
May 20 – Schofield announces he is stepping down from This Morning, effective “immediately.”
May 22 – Substitute hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond hailed their former colleague as “one of the best live television networks this country has ever had”.
May 26 – Schofield releases a statement admitting to having an affair with a “much younger” colleague but then lying about it.
May 27 – Mrs Willoughby slams him for lying to her.
May 28 – Former This Morning resident Dr. Ranj Singh, slams the show’s “toxic” culture.
May 29 – Schofield releases a statement denying claims the series has a toxic culture, prompting Eamonn Holmes to tweet about him as “delusional”.
“Tonight is dedicated to all of my work colleagues over the years who have been scared and ignored by you and your controlling, compulsive behavior.”
‘Anyone nobody was listening to.’ I’m here for you.’
He also added that he was “only telling the truth to a compulsory inspector.”
It is unclear whom exactly he referred to as the “compulsory controller”.
Schofield broke his silence yesterday by criticizing a “handful of people” with “persistently loud voices” and dismissing claims that something “toxic” happened on the show.
In a statement posted to his Instagram, the 61-year-old presenter said: “Now that I’m no longer working on This Morning, I’m free to say so.” I hope you’ve noticed it’s the same handful of people who have a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.
“This Morning IS the best show to work on, with the best people.” In all the years I’ve worked there has been no toxicity.
“You can listen to those sustained loud voices if you like. But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew members, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know it: It IS a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard-working people.”
Shortly after the testimony, Holmes, who has been critical of Schofield for a number of years, voiced his own thoughts.
The 63-year-old tweeted, “Schofield just made a delusional statement.” Like Holly, he posts it on Insta Stories so if anything goes wrong there’s no record after 24 hours.
“I hesitate to pay any more attention to the liar, but believe me, Pip, if you’re looking for a fight, you’ve picked the wrong person!”
He and Schofield were never close, but appreciated each other’s broadcasting styles and worked together professionally.
But in 2019, the two fell out after Holmes’ wife, Ruth Langsford, filed an official complaint against Schofield when he interrupted her on the show while she was explaining what was coming on her part of “This Morning.”
Schofield said, ‘Guys, we’re going to have to step in and stop you guys, I’m afraid, because we’re running a bit short on time at the end.’ Thanks, Ruth.’
A visibly unimpressed Langsford replied, “Well, I only had about two more words to say.”
In February 2022, Holmes publicly condemned Schofield on the matter, telling the Chron’s Weekend magazine that his wife was one of many people in the television industry who had been “snubbed” by the host.
He said, “Phillip has been known to snub people.” He’s very passive-aggressive.
Holmes called Phillip Schofield “delusional” during the interview.
Schofield spoke out for the first time since leaving the show, hitting out at those “who held a grudge against me.”
Holmes said that if Schofield was “looking for a fight,” he “picked the wrong person.”
“It’s up to Ruth to say how she felt, but I felt hurt for her.” No one would have snubbed me like that.
“I don’t like presenters who think they have a special privilege, aura or influence.”
Last night’s interview comes a day after former This Morning resident Dr. Ranj Singh, who has called the program a “toxic culture”.
He said he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” two years ago while he was still working on the program, but felt “expelled” for “whistleblowing.”
dr Ranj said he has expressed his concerns to ITV executives as he has been heavily involved in “diversity, anti-bullying and mental health projects” across the channel.
“I then found that I was being used less and less,” he continued.
“I even took my concerns straight to the top of ITV: the culture on This Morning had become toxic and no longer aligned with ITV values and I felt like I was being sacked because of my whistleblower.”
“But as history and experience have taught us, things like bullying and discrimination are very difficult to prove, especially in hindsight and when those in power are in control of the narrative.”
Schofield and wife Willoughby were together for 14 years until Schofield’s sudden departure last week
Ms Langsford, Schofield, Holmes and Ms Willoughby in 2020 as they co-presented This Morning
“As we have seen, no review or investigation is foolproof.”
Responding to his post, an ITV spokesman said: “We are sorry to have to delete today’s post from Dr. to read Ranj.”
“At ITV we are fully committed to giving everyone who works with us every opportunity to raise any concerns or comments.
“Following a complaint from Dr. Ranj, we commissioned an external and independent consultant to carry out a review. This external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.”
This Morning has been in the spotlight since Schofield admitted in a statement to the Chron on Friday that he lied to ITV, his lawyers, his talent agency and his 14-year-old co-star about his affair with a younger colleague.
Last night the scandal showed no sign of easing as new photos emerged of a smiling Schofield with his former lover and wife Willoughby in 2018 as they left a This Morning Live event.
This Morning’s biggest sponsor, Arnold Clark, announced he would not be renewing his multi-million dollar contract with the channel in the fall.
A source told The Sun: “There is a lot of speculation about the future of This Morning and some staff are worried about their jobs.”
“Phil’s admission of deception has thrown ITV into a crisis it has never faced before.”
“It is well known internally that they have lost over £2million in sponsorship deals since Phil’s affair became public.”
“Brands don’t think ITV is a safe bet right now.”
dr Ranj said he had escalated his concerns to ITV’s “top management” but felt he had been “ousted”.
Ms Willoughby, who has been the show’s presenter for 14 years, is expected to return to the program on Monday
Another source told The Mirror: “The next few weeks will be a desperate attempt to save the show – and executive jobs.”
“Finger is being pointed at the top leadership despite admitting he lied to them all.”
“The show’s wholesome image is clearly tarnished, but optimistic ITV execs aren’t going to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
“They are determined to prove that the brand is stronger than any single presenter and that they can give it a fresh start after Schofield.”
Ms Willoughby is believed to be fighting to keep her presenting role on the show and is hoping to weather the scandal.
She has not been on the air since Schofield’s sudden departure, but this was due to a planned vacation for the school holidays.
The presenter, who has hosted the show for 14 years, is expected to return to the show on Monday.
But she’s also facing calls to leave the show, with former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries claiming the popular presenter has “questions to answer”.