ITV must pay for independent Phillip Schofield inquiry, demands Nadine Dorries

Nadine Dorries has called for an independent inquiry into ITV’s handling of the Phillip Schofield row as she called for the Government to support an investigation.

The former culture secretary joined criticism of the broadcaster, which has been accused of covering up Schofield’s affair with his younger lover.

It emerged on Tuesday that the man in question, who cannot be identified, was given a settlement after leaving ITV, which sources insisted was a redundancy payment not related to the relationship.

Schofield, who has quit his presenting role on This Morning, last week admitted lying to ITV, his now-former agent and his family about the “unwise” on-off affair.

Ms Dorries wrote on Twitter:

During her time in Boris Johnson’s Cabinet, Ms Dorries said she felt “incredibly uncomfortable” when she appeared on This Morning to be interviewed about the online safety bill.

She told TalkTV: “His face was like thunder, it was incredibly aggressive, and [Josie Gibson, a fellow presenter] just sat there holding the script as he was bashing it with his hands while the camera was on me.

“And it actually made me feel incredibly uncomfortable… He was unpleasant, and I know I’ve heard from so many people that he didn’t know the names of anyone on the production team, even people who’ve worked there for many years with him, that he was rude.”

It came after Eammon Holmes, one of Schofield’s former colleagues at the channel, accused ITV bosses of orchestrating a “total cover-up” and claimed those in authority “had to know” the secret relationship had taken place.

Holmes labelled Schofield a “chief narcissist” in an interview with GB News and alleged he would “hit the town” on Thursdays for “playtime” with the young man.

The Telegraph revealed on Wednesday that ITV bosses will be questioned by MPs over their handling of the Schofield affair when members of the House of Commons digital, culture, media and sport select committee speak to executives from the broadcaster in a televised hearing.

Although the session is meant to discuss the draft Media Bill, with executives at Channel 4 and Channel 5 on the same panel, MPs have made clear they will use the hearing to raise their concerns about how the row was dealt with.

ITV was contacted for further comment. In a previous statement, a spokesman for the channel said: “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.

“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.”