Investigation into TV host Phillip Schofield’s affair to begin

There has been a major update on the inquiry into a popular TV host’s affair with a younger male colleague.

Phillip Schofield pictured with his young lover. Picture: ITV.

An investigation into British TV host Phillip Schofield’s affair with a young male runner is set to take 12 weeks to complete.

Schofield, 61, and his former lover will be quizzed at length about their relationship.

This Morning’s Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will also be interviewed along with Holly Willoughby, The Sunreported.

But the report’s findings are unlikely to be published until the UK’s winter (Australian summer), according to sources.

And the investigation is only just about to get underway despite the intense focus on the case.

A source said: “The inquiry will speak to all those involved. It will focus on what happened before and after he was first given work experience on the set of This Morning. And it will also seek to establish who knew what and when.

“As well as speaking to current staff it will also invite former employees to come forward with information.”

They are likely to include Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford and Dr Ranj Singh - as well as production staff.

Jane Mulcahy is the lawyer leading the independent inquiry for ITV.

It was ordered by ITV boss Carolyn McCall after Schofield admitted lying to cover up his affair.

Eamonn Holmes, left, will likely be spoken to as part of the investigation. Picture: ITV.

She said the TV star had been quizzed over widespread rumours but admitted she failed to launch a formal investigation.

Dame Carolyn branded the relationship “deeply inappropriate” and said only “ongoing reviews” were held. None of them established the full facts, she added.

She told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee she first became aware of a rumour about the relationship in December 2019, two years after she joined ITV.

Schofield and the runner - identified only as Person X - both “categorically denied” any affair.

Person X was asked 12 times, including twice with a human resources staffer present.

When asked if ITV had pressured him to remain silent, Dame Carolyn said: “I want to be clear it was Phillip putting him under pressure - not ITV putting him under pressure.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield won awards together, now they don’t speak. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

“They are two quite different things.”

Dame Carolyn denied the affair was an “open secret” at ITV.

ITV’s managing director Kevin Lygo said he confronted Schofield in February 2022 when he came out on This Morning and when he stepped down in May.

“He looked me in the eye and promised me there was no truth to the rumours of this relationship,” he added. “Because it was corroborated by Person X, I believed him and I believed his agent.

“Then two days later, he comes out and says, ‘No, it’s a lie’”.

Once the report has been put together, ITV will review the results and take action accordingly.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was republished with permission.