02 June 2023 , 22:03
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Phillip Schofield has slammed his "vile" ex-colleagues who claimed he "lorded" it at This Morning as he hit back at claims made by Dr Ranj Singh.
The former This Morning host, 61, resigned from ITV after admitting having an “unwise, but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague.
Since his departure, some of his ex-colleagues have made claims about the culture of the show, branding it "toxic".
He said: "If I have crossed you, and I know a couple of them. There are people who have come out against the show because they weren’t asked to go back on it. That’s not my choice. How vile to say we lorded it in that place.
"I adore those people. And I think to suggest anything otherwise is an agenda I don’t understand."
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This Morning medical guest Dr Ranj has been vocal about his experiences on the programme, saying he "raised concerns" about Phillip before he was then used "less and less" on the show.
Phillip has since branded Dr Ranj's actions as "stabbing him" in the back after the pair shared a "lovely" final meeting.
Dr Ranj has hit out at This Morning following Phil's news (ITV)
Phillip says Dr Ranj's comments felt like 'stabbing him' in the back (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Schofield said: "There is categorically no toxicity [at This Morning] and the only people who create that are the people who have their own toxicity.
"I don't know what is the reason to stab something that's been really good to you," he told The Sun.
He added: "There are people who have come out against the show because they weren’t asked to go back on it. That’s not my choice. How vile to say we lorded it in that place."
Phillip went on to say he "adored" the people he worked with and to suggest otherwise is "an agenda" he doesn't understand.
In the past week the likes of Eamonn Holmes and Dr Ranj Singh have spoken out to condemn Schofield's position at ITV's flagship daytime show after the host of 20 years stepped down after confessing to an affair with a younger runner.
Dr Ranj Singh said he made a complaint about the toxicity at This Morning to the head of ITV during his time there.
The doctor said he decided to quit the show after feeling working there did not agree with his morals.
Dr Ranj took to social media to explain how he had been "increasingly worried" about how things were behind-the-scenes and how individuals were being treated on This Morning.
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In a lengthy statement, Ranj said: "I was on the show for ten years and I genuinely loved and valued working there. However, over time, I grew increasingly worried about how things were behind-the-scenes and how people, including myself were being treated.
"I didn't know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with This Morning go far beyond him.
"It takes more than one person to create a culture. So I did what I thought was right and, as ITV confirmed last night, I raised my concerns about Martin Frizell's behaviour (and the environment at This Morning) with Emma Gormley - especially given that my job is to look after people's wellbeing, and I had been heavily involved in diversity, anti-bullying, and mental health projects across the channel.
"But then I found myself being used less and less."
Ranj continued on in his lengthy statement: "I even took my concerns directly to the top of ITV. The culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values , and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out."