This Morning is facing the possibility of being ‘axed’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ ITV/ REX/ Shutterstock)
This Morning could be cancelled after the bombshell affair confession and exit of long-time host Phillip Schofield.
After weeks of speculation that Schofield, 61, had been embroiled in a fall out with co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, he announced he would be stepping down from ITV’s flagship breakfast programme last weekend.
Then, on Friday evening, Schofield issued a statement saying he was leaving the station altogether after admitting to having a relationship with a much younger man who worked on the show.
Taking place while Schofield was still married to his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe, he said the affair was ‘unwise but not illegal’ and admitted to lying about their relationship to his colleagues.
But not it’s emerged that the show bosses are facing pressure to reveal exactly what they knew about the affair with the young showrunner.
‘This goes right to the top. Very senior heads could roll,’ a source told The Sun.
Phillip Schofield quit the program last weekend (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
‘If there’s any suggestions of a cover-up they could be culpable.
‘It’s also possible that This Morning could end up getting the axe.’
The comments come after ITV issued a statement on Saturday confirming that it previously investigated rumours of the relationship.
‘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,’ the network said.
Schofield joined This Morning back in 2002, where he first co-hosted with Fern Britton (Picture: ITV/ Shutterstock)
‘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.’
It added that Schofield’s statement on Friday night had made clear he had ‘lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship’.
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This Morning first started screening back in 1988.
Its presenters over the years have also included Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, Coleen Nolan, John Leslie and Fern Britton.
Metro.co.uk has contacted ITV for comment.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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‘This goes right to the top.’
