ITV’s high-ranking official has stood up to uphold the broadcaster’s responsibility towards staff welfare amid the uproar caused by Phillip Schofield’s clandestine affair with a markedly younger workmate.
The host of This Morning left his position at ITV last month following his admission that he had deceived his employers and colleagues about the affair.
In addition, there have been claims of a pervading ‘toxic’ environment within the show.
Magnus Brooke, ITV’s director of strategy, policy and regulation, addressed MPs, stating unequivocally that bullying was “unacceptable” and would be “dealt with appropriately”.
Brooke explained to the House of Commons committee on Tuesday, “There’s a very sophisticated and a significant system of safeguarding and duty of care at ITV with a very significant set of policies.”
He further elaborated, “We have a code of conduct, which sets out our expectations about how people behave, and that deals with a number of different issues, from equal opportunities to respect to work, dignity and understanding. We then have an important set of requirements, which hold people to account internally.”
However, SNP MP John Nicolson responded to Brooke, having spoken to insiders at ITV, and expressed that it “seems like a very unhappy place”.
Nicolson also brought up comments made by This Morning’s editor, Martin Frizell, in relation to a question from Sky News about whether there was a ‘toxic’ environment on the show.
‘Extremely ill-judged’
Mr Frizell told the reporter: “I’ll tell you what’s toxic and I’ve always found it toxic. Aubergine. Do you like aubergine?”
Mr Nicolson described those comments as “surreal and bizarre”, adding: “I wouldn’t like to be a young staffer going in talking to that editor about bullying given that that’s the way he treats the subject matter on camera in public.”
Referring to the aubergine remarks, Mr Brooke accepted it was “extremely ill-judged to say what he did”.
“But I can reassure you on behalf of ITV that we do take all of these allegations very seriously, precisely because we do have a culture in which people’s conduct matters enormously to us,” he added.
Last week, the broadcaster made an announcement that it had engaged barrister Jane Mulcahy KC to examine its handling of the relationship between Schofield and his colleague, whom he had known since the age of 15 and supported in entering the industry.
Mr. Brooke indicated that this action demonstrated the network’s dedication to taking these issues seriously, stating, “The move shows that we take these issues very seriously.”
He expressed his hope that the review would “establish the facts” and “get to the bottom of what’s happened.”
Speaking before Parliament’s culture, media, and sport committee, he emphasized, “Bullying is absolutely a breach of our code of conduct. It is very clearly set out, and we have a set of policies around bullying and harassment at work. Clearly, it’s unacceptable.”
“If we find bullying, it’s inconsistent with our policy. We’d expect people to report it, and we’d expect it to be dealt with appropriately,” he further stated.
During an interview with the BBC last week, Schofield refuted allegations of a toxic environment on This Morning, as well as suggestions of him wielding excessive power or being difficult to work with. He asserted, “I’m not rude on the studio floor, I don’t bully people.”
This response followed Dr Ranj Singh’s criticism of the “toxic” culture prevailing on the program. Dr Ranj expressed that the issues extend beyond Schofield, and he took his concerns “directly to the top of ITV.” However, he found the subsequent process “pretty heart-breaking.”
ITV responded to Dr Ranj’s complaint by commissioning an external review, which concluded that there was no evidence of bullying or discrimination.
Former co-host of This Morning, Eamonn Holmes, has also accused Schofield of fostering a “toxic” atmosphere.
Dame Carolyn McCall, the chief executive of the broadcaster, is scheduled to address this matter when she appears before the same committee next week.