Dr. Zoe Williams has spoken out about the culture at This Morning, insisting everything is back to ‘normal’ after the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Phillip stepped down from ITV in May as he admitted to having an affair with a much younger male This Morning colleague in an ‘unwise but not illegal’ relationship.
Since then his former co-star Holly Willoughby has been working alongside a rotation of presenters, including the likes of Craig Doyle, Josie Gibson, Dermot O’Leary, and Alison Hammond.
ITV instructed a barrister to conduct an external review of the facts surrounding Phillip’s departure while CEO Dame Carolyn McCall was among three broadcast bosses grilled by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
During a period of uncertainty on the channel, Dr Zoe admitted staff feared losing their jobs, but were now ‘out the other end.’
Business: Dr. Zoe Williams has spoken out about the culture at This Morning, insisting everything is back to ‘normal’ after the Phillip Schofield scandal
She told HELLO Magazine: ‘It feels like everything’s back to business as normal now. More than anything, I’ve really felt for the staff and the people in the production office. It’s a big team and we all get on.
‘There was a point where I think everybody felt that their jobs were in jeopardy, and there are people who’ve worked on the show for decades. It’s been a really emotional and difficult time, but I think we’re out the other end.’
After former Dancing on Ice host Phillip – who has who has daughters Molly, 30, and 27-year-old Ruby with wife Stephanie Lowe – left the broadcaster after almost 20 years, some stars had claimed there is a ‘toxic’ culture at ITV, but chief executive Dame McCall insisted there have only been two complaints of such an ‘issue’ in five years, and both were ‘taken very seriously’.
When asked what she makes of allegations of there being a ‘toxic culture at ‘This Morning’, Carolyn told a government committee: ‘What I would say is that it’s not something that we take that seriously.
‘What I know is that when we talk about culture it’s incredibly important to me, personally and so it deeply disappoints me, right?
‘But we do not recognise that in This Morning and the reason for that is that we have tangible evidence to tell you that the vast majority of people at daytime and at ‘This Morning’ are extremely engaged and very motivated.
‘That’s not to say we don’t take complaints about it seriously. We’ve had two complaints in five years about that issue. Both of them taken very seriously.’
Meanwhile, This Morning bosses are facing more chaos over its revamp after relations between its two presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have become increasingly strained.
Moved on: Phillip stepped down from ITV in May as he admitted to having an affair with a much younger male This Morning colleague, with Holly Willoughby remaining alongside a roster of guest presenters (pictured in May)
The Mail on Sunday revealed some executives on the under-fire ITV daytime programme are worried they may have to consider the duo hosting more episodes apart.
Alison, 48, and Dermot, 50, who host This Morning on Fridays and school holidays, were seen as being able to steady the ship following Phillip’s departure in May.
Sources claim that Alison is no longer as close as she was to Holly. The pair were being tipped to be the main presenting duo when the programme begins its new season in September.
One insider on the show said: ‘Alison and Dermot got off to a tricky start, they had very different levels of experience and came from totally different places but they then did start to rub along quite nicely.
‘Recently though things have become strained and it is worrying the bosses, they fear that this couple they put together which they had hoped would carry the show through the tough times it is enduring may have to present apart a bit more.
‘As for Holly and Alison, they were as thick as thieves. Alison even invited Holly to stay at her house recently, something which Holly then shared with the This Morning viewers, which surprised Alison.’
Dermot, a seasoned presenter with more than two decades of experience, has been anchoring the show with Ms Willoughby in recent weeks.
Holly, 42, and Alison are also of concern to the chiefs. The two had grown close in recent months and Holly had been hoping she would be able to have the former Big Brother host as her sidekick.
But this newspaper has been told that Alison views herself as a star in her own right after being poached to host the popular Channel 4 show The Great British Bake Off.
Meanwhile, bosses are said to be ‘thrilled’ with how popular Craig Doyle, 52, the former presenter of the BBC’s Holiday programme, has become with female viewers after spending a little over a year as a stand-in host, mostly alongside Josie Gibson.
He has been paired with Holly several times since Phillip left the programme and This Morning fans have been enjoying their chemistry hugely.
One source on This Morning said: ‘Craig had been out in the wilderness for some time and recently he has made the most fantastic comeback.
‘Holly loves him and so do the viewers. Watch this space.’
The Mail on Sunday first told of tensions behind the scenes at This Morning in April which were likely to see the end of Phillip’s 21-year reign as host.
He was ousted from the show a month later and latterly revealed he had lied about having a relationship with a much younger This Morning runner and lying about it to this newspaper.
An ITV spokesperson said: ‘Alison, Dermot and Holly are all valued members of the This Morning family and all enjoy working together on the show, as well as having friendships outside of the show.’
Struggle: This Morning bosses are facing more chaos over its revamp after relations between its two presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have become increasingly strained
