Summary

  • ITV's This Morning is being broadcast for the first time since former presenter Phillip Schofield admitted an affair with a younger male colleague

  • Dermot O'Leary, who is standing in as host alongside Alison Hammond, started by saying the "whole team love making" the show

  • Just before it aired, Schofield released a statement hitting back at claims of "toxicity" while he worked there

  • The former This Morning host left last week following reports of a rift with co-star Holly Willoughby

  • Days later, he admitted having an affair with a young male colleague while still married to his wife, apologising for lying repeatedly to hide it

  • ITV is under pressure after several stars questioned what the broadcaster knew of Schofield's affair - but it says it found no evidence beyond "rumour"

Live Reporting

Edited by Dulcie Lee

  1. The whole team love making the show - O'Leary

    Here's the first nod to the upheaval that's been affecting the show in the last couple of weeks.

    Ahead of a chat of on the sofa about the latest news, presenter Dermot O'Leary says viewers will know that "we happen to be in the news" at the moment.

    He says "the whole team love making this show".

    "So that’s what we’re going to do," fellow presenter Alison Hammond says.

  2. Tea rooms and shortbread - a cheerful start to the show

    Presenter Alison Hammond has opened the show in usual chipper style, introducing what's coming up - including a visit to a tea room in Cheshire with an unusual claim to fame and a chat with chef Phil Vickery who'll be cooking a Philly cheesesteak and millionaire's shortbread.

  3. Media waiting outside This Morning studio

    Insaf Abbas
    Reporting from Television Centre, London

    TV cameras outside This Morning studio

    A small huddle of media has been gathered here at Television Centre since early morning, hoping to catch a glimpse of This Morning’s presenters and ITV executives.

    But none have been spotted at the main entrances, and we suspect they were dropped off round the back, where filming is not allowed.

    We’ll keep an eye out for anyone who emerges after the programme has aired, and bring you whatever we get.

  4. Show gets started

    This Morning is starting now, and we'll be keeping an eye out for any reference to Schofield's departure and latest statement. It's being hosted by Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, the regular stand-ins.

    We're watching along and will bring you the latest. Stay with us.

  5. What's this all about again?

    Phillip SchofieldPA Media

    If you’ve found yourself residing under some rocks recently, you may have missed the news that Phillip Schofield left ITV last week.

    He admitted to having an affair with a younger male colleague, leaving the future of This Morning in turmoil.

    Here's a recap:

    • On Friday, Schofield confirmed he had a relationship with an employee while married and lied repeatedly to hide it
    • He quit ITV, describing their relationship as “unwise but not illegal"
    • For its part, ITV said it had investigated in 2020 but found no evidence of it other than “rumour”
    • On Sunday, lawyers representing Schofield confirmed to the BBC the pair had met when the younger colleague was 15, but stressed there was no sexual relationship until after he had started working at This Morning
    • He was 18 by the time he joined the programme
    • ITV bosses have been facing questions about whether the programme can survive
    • But the broadcaster says there are no plans to pull the show

  6. Accusations of toxic culture on This Morning

    Dr Ranj SinghPA Media

    As we've just reported, Phillip Schofield has released a statement on Instagram saying there was "no toxicity" at This Morning when he worked there.

    It comes after Dr Ranj Singh, who worked on the programme for a decade, publicly criticised the show for having a "toxic" work culture and said the issues "go far beyond" the former presenter.

    Writing on Twitter, the TV medic said he last worked on the show two years ago, having found himself used "less and less" after raising concerns about how people were being treated.

    Dr Singh wrote that he "did not know the truth about what was going on with Phillip", adding: "It takes more than one person to create a culture."

    On Sunday evening, ITV responded by saying it was sorry to read the post, but said after a complaint from Dr Singh there had been an external review which "found no evidence of bullying or discrimination".

  7. Schofield says 'no toxicity' at This Morning - statement
    Breaking

    Phillip Schofield has just released a statement on Instagram hitting back at critics and saying there was "no toxicity" at This Morning while he worked there.

    Just before the show is about to go on air, Schofield says: "Now I no longer work on This Morning I am free to say this. I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people against me or the show who seem to have the largest voice."

    He says This Morning is “the best show to work on, with the best people”, adding that “in all the years I worked there, there was no toxicity.”

    Philip Schofield.

  8. This Morning returns after Schofield admits affair

    Dulcie Lee
    Live reporter

    All eyes are on London’s Television Centre today as This Morning airs for the first time since former presenter Phillip Schofield admitted having an affair with a younger male colleague.

    ITV are under pressure, with fears for the future of the show, as several stars have questioned what the broadcaster knew of Schofield’s affair.

    Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are down to present the show from 10am - we'll bring you all the latest lines, so stick with us.

    Dermot O'Leary and Alison HammondPA Media