This Morning in second probe after producer had 'affair with guest'
This Morning was the subject of second internal inquiry in the wake of the Phillip Schofield scandal earlier this year, it has been claimed.
ITV was rocked in May after 61-year old presenter Schofield admitted to having an "unwise but not illegal" extramarital relationship with a much younger runner on the show. Now, one of the hit daytime show's producers has reportedly been accused of having an affair with a contestant during the filming of a spin-off in Barbados.
The holiday dating segment pilot, which was fronted by A Place In The Sun host Laura Hamilton, saw the senior staff member reportedly having a fling with a contestant during their time in the Caribbean. Although the producer has since resigned, the incident is said to have proven somewhat of an embarrassment for the broadcaster, who promised transparency in the wake of Schofield's departure.
The reported affair occurred in Barbados, where ITV were filming a pilot fronted by Laura Hamilton (Instagram/ @laurahamiltontv)An insider told The Sun : "Bosses were furious when it came to their attention that a producer had an affair with the contestant, especially in light of this year’s This Morning scandal and controversy. It meant that there was another investigation into what happened in Barbados that had to be carried out."
They continued: "It was disappointing to senior members of staff. The producer promptly resigned." Responding to the claims, meanwhile, a spokesperson for ITV told the Mirror: "We are unable to comment on the details of any specific employment-related matters. ITV sets out and upholds very clear policies with regards to raising concerns and work-related conduct amongst our people."
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It comes amid fears barrister Jane Mulcahy's inquiry into Schofield's affair will never see the public light of day. ITV's chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall, previously told a committee of MPs that the "findings will be published".
Addressing fans after exiting This Morning six months ago, Schofield said in a statement: " I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago. The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning.
It follows Phillip Schofield's 'unwise but not illegal' affair during his time on the show (Ken McKay/ITV/REX)
Schofield subsequently quit the show in May (S Meddle/ITV/REX)"I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.
"I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife."
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