dr Ranj Singh has spoken out after a photo resurfaced this week of him alongside the young lover of disgraced former This Morning host Phillip Schofield.
Singh, 43, worked as a resident medical expert alongside Schofield and his co-host Holly Willoughby on the show for six years before retiring in 2022.
Veteran TV presenter Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV on Friday and was subsequently sacked by his talent agency YMU after admitting to This Morning an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a young male colleague.
Speaking of his weekend departure, Singh said he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” when he was working there two years ago and afterwards felt “expelled” for whistleblowing.
He has since taken steps to defend himself after a selfie of a six-year-old taken by Singh with the young runner, who was at the center of Schofield’s departure, surfaced on social media.
Opinion: Dr. Ranj Singh has spoken out after a photo resurfaced this week of him alongside the young lover of disgraced former This Morning host Phillip Schofield
He wrote on Twitter: “It’s sad that there are people out there trying to cause harm and insinuate from a harmless image.”
“So here are a few facts: [Phil’s ex] and I worked together on This Morning. He was 21 when we took this photo in the studio. And it was obviously taken as a joke.”
Singh’s post comes just days after he became the last former colleague to condemn the show.
In a lengthy social media post, he wrote, “I was on the show for ten years and I really loved and appreciated working there.” However, over time I became increasingly concerned about how things were going behind the scenes and how people, including me, were treated.
“I didn’t know what was wrong with Phillip, but I know the issues with TM (This Morning) go well beyond him.”
“It takes more than one person to create a culture.”
Singh 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.”
Familiar face: Singh worked as a resident medical expert alongside Schofield and his co-host Holly Willoughby on the show for six years before retiring in 2022
Speaking up: The TV medic previously confirmed he had raised concerns about the behavior of editors and senior producers to ITV and subsequently saw his airtime drop
Old Times: Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby with Dr. Ranj on This Morning in 2019. The TV doctor said he felt he needed to speak up
“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.”
“As we have seen, no review or investigation is foolproof.”
The doctor said he was assured things would be addressed and changes made, but he hasn’t worked on the show since – adding that two years after the complaints were filed, it “still hurts”.
An ITV spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear today’s contribution from Dr. Ranj.” At ITV we are fully committed to giving everyone who works with us every opportunity to raise a concern or comment.
“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.”
According to The Mail on Sunday, Schofield met the younger ITV colleague, with whom he later had an affair, when he was 15.
Lawyers representing Schofield have confirmed they met when the boy was 15 but said the affair began after he started working at ITV and the man’s lawyers also said that started after he joined the station.
In a statement Friday, Schofield said their affair began when the younger man joined the show as an adult.
It’s over and done with: Schofield severed all ties with ITV after retiring last week
Playtime: Schofield leaves the Ivy Club in London with his younger colleague, who became his lover
The presenter, 61, left ITV on Friday after admitting to the Chron he lied about an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger man. His 13-year-old co-host Holly said it was “hurting” to find out she had been lied to
ITV said it had investigated “rumors of a relationship” between Schofield and the ITV worker around three years ago, but both parties “categorically and repeatedly denied it”.
A spokesman for the channel said on Saturday that when ITV investigated the affair in 2020 “it had not presented any evidence of a relationship, nor found any beyond hearsay and rumours”.
“Phillip’s statement yesterday shows he has lied to people at ITV, from senior management to other presenters, the YMU, the media and others, about this relationship,” they added.
The network also said it was “deeply disappointed” by Schofield’s “admissions of deception” after speaking publicly about the affair.
Longtime co-host Willoughby said in an Instagram Story posted on Saturday, “When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if that was true and was told it wasn’t.”
“It was very hurtful to find out now that was a lie.”
In his own statement, Schofield apologized for lying about the relationship.
“The first thing I want to say is I’m deeply sorry that I lied to you (the Chron) and many others about a relationship I had with someone who worked on This Morning,” he said .
Devastated: Sources close to Willoughby said it was a “traumatic” revelation for the This Morning host and a “time of genuine sadness”.
“I was in a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.”
He continued, “To protect my ex-colleague, I didn’t tell the relationship honestly.”
“But my recent independent departure from This Morning has fueled speculation and raised questions that have bothered him. That’s why it’s important for him that I’m honest now.”
Singh isn’t the only “This Morning” host affected by the fallout from Friday’s shocking admission that Schofield had an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague.
Willoughby, who will officially be back on the show on Monday June 5 after a two-week family vacation, may be extending her time off in a desperate bid to avoid becoming even more drawn into controversy, PR guru Mark Borkowski has said.
The team behind ITV’s golden girl, including their advisors, agents and lawyers, must now “find the right things” to guarantee their future, he claimed.
Borkowski told Web, “For Holly, it’s about staying out of the headlines and taking some time off.” Disappearing from public view.
“Of course she won’t be working on TV at the moment, she might be able to extend that.” She’s the girl next door. She has made huge commercial deals, is clearly a talent and is clearly liked.’
Speaking up: Eamonn Holmes – who previously hosted This Morning but now works for GB News – has accused ITV of a cover-up
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
Old times: Schofield with Co-0 presenter Holly Willoughby and his former lover on the This Morning sofa
He added that Willoughby must now prove viewers can trust her – as many wonder who at the network knew of Schofield’s relationship with his colleague.
Commenting on the reputation of ITV’s bubbly breakfast presenter, he said: “Just because you’re a celebrity you’re subject to a greater degree of scrutiny.” [but] Everyone fails, there is drama in everyone’s life.
“In my view, we have yet to know, and it’s up to her to restore her audience’s confidence and get her representatives to work extremely hard to regain some of the ground that might have been lost.”
Meanwhile, former This Morning colleague Eamonn Holmes accused ITV of “completely covering up” Schofield’s affair and claimed that “those in charge should know about it” because the man commuted between Schofield’s home and the studios in taxis back and forth driven here who were ‘paid by them’ ITV’.
Last night he told GB News colleague Dan Wootton 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.’ You would have seen that and known.’
Open: Holmes also opened up about 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”.
Allegation: Holmes also spoke about Thursday being known as ‘playtime’ for Schofield and his younger former partner, as the pair arrived at the ITV studios in separate cars on Friday morning
Schofield took to social media yesterday to defend himself and the show he has hosted for more than 20 years, posting on Instagram: “Now I’m no longer working on This Morning, I’m free to say so.”
“I hope you’ve noticed that 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 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 even know people’s names. It’s legendary within the production team, how distant they are and how they just don’t care.
“Not only should Phillip go, but Holly should follow him out the door.” I don’t think you’ll ever see Holly on the couch again.’
Shamed: Schofield apologized to his wife Stephanie Lowe (pictured), who stood by him after he came out as gay in 2020
Emotional: The presenter is held by Holly Willoughby as he comes out as gay on This Morning in 2020
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, “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.”