ITV is reportedly banning under-18s from engaged on This Morning following the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Final 12 months, the previous presenter admitted to having had an 'unwise however not unlawful' affair with a youthful male worker.
The allegations emerged amid a rumored break up with co-presenter Holly Willoughby, and Schofield later give up this system earlier than sensationally resigning fully from his ITV tasks, together with Dancing On Ice.
His departure led to additional accusations that This Morning fostered a tradition of bullying that was described as poisonous, as extra particulars concerning the 'affair' – which he claims passed off whereas he was nonetheless married to his spouse of 30 years and earlier than he got here out as homosexual – emerged – got here to mild.
The showrunner, who stays nameless, is 34 years youthful than Schofield and was stated to have been 15 when he met the presenter, with the romantic relationship reportedly beginning when he was 20.
In keeping with The Solar, minors at the moment are not allowed to work on the channel to make sure individuals really feel protected within the working surroundings.
Additionally it is stated that the 'ban' will make it harder for nepotism on the channel as employees will likely be much less in a position to assist mates and family who usually are not over 18 years outdated.
A supply stated: 'ITV don't need one thing just like the Schofield scandal to occur once more so they’re tightening up their insurance policies considerably.
“They make it more durable for mates and family of senior staff to get jobs right here, so there's no nepotism – or the rest.
'The son of a producer works as a runner, however is just allowed to take action as a result of he’s in a distinct division.
'The principles at the moment are whiter than white about hiring employees. No extra 16 or 17 12 months olds both. It's 18 years and older.'
Following Schofield's departure from ITV, an exterior investigation into the details was launched in Might, as confirmed in a letter from Dame Carolyn McCall to Tradition Secretary Lucy Frazer, chair of the DCMS committee Dame Caroline Dinenage and Ofcom chief govt Dame Melanie Dawes .
Within the letter she wrote that ITV is taking the matter “extraordinarily severely and has reviewed our personal information… [which] present that when rumors of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an ITV worker first started circulating in late 2019/early 2020, ITV launched an investigation.'
Schofield 'reluctantly' refused to participate within the exterior investigation into the circumstances surrounding his departure from ITV because of 'the danger to his well being', the report stated.
Jane Mulcahy KC added that she had been knowledgeable that Schofield's psychological well being has since deteriorated, and likewise addressed experiences of a 'poisonous' ambiance on This Morning.
She stated just one individual she spoke to had information of the affair between Schofield and the nameless runner, and that the worker didn’t report that information to anybody after studying of the connection in 2021.
Mulcahy interviewed 48 individuals for the evaluation, and along with Schofield, the runner declined to take part.
“Others additionally reported no suspicions from a lot earlier in 2017,” Mulcahy's report added.
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The evaluation additionally discovered that Schofield's patronage of the runner helped him within the early days of his profession at ITV, however in any other case the person appeared to have 'made his approach on his personal'.
The report added: 'I’m glad that PX's promotion to Manufacturing Secretary on one other daytime program had nothing to do with PS.
'Moreover, the one settlement between ITV and PX below which he acquired any settlement sum was a regular kind settlement terminating the employment relationship, dated 31 July 2021.
'After the story broke in 2019, ITV tried to do every little thing it might to help PX and supply him with vital extra help, even in Might 2023, regardless of his employment having ended.'
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The evaluation really useful that managers guarantee junior staff are conscious of the 'open tradition' and know there’s a protected house to complain or increase issues with out worrying about their jobs being in danger.
It additionally advised that ITV would set 'clear pointers for its expertise going ahead to make sure good habits is upheld even by family names.'
Metro.co.uk has approached ITV for remark.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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