Carol McGiffin has spoken out on Phillip Schofield, claiming that none of the Loose Women panel 'like' the broadcaster.
It comes after Phillip admitted having an "unwise" affair with a much younger ITV colleague and insists that despite meeting him when he was 15, he didn't groom him.
Reacting to Schofield breaking his silence on the scandal, McGiffin, 63, has now claimed that none of the Loose Women stars had a 'good word' to say about him.
She also described This Morning as 'tainted' and suggested the ITV show needs to be scrapped amid accusations of a 'cover up'.
During a chat on GB News, former Loose Women star McGiffin who quit earlier this year over a pay row claimed none of the famous panel liked Schofield.
"I don't know anybody who's actually ever said out loud that they really like Philip," she told Dan Wootton.
Carol went on to suggest that a member of the Loose Women crew was axed in order to supply Phil's ex-lover with a job on the programme.
She claimed: "Everybody was really quite upset about it because everybody loved him. And he was a great runner…
"I got a text message and it was from the young man in question and he said, 'I'm the new production secretary at Loose Women', I thought, 'hang on a minute. What's happened here?'
"It was quite obvious, as Eamonn said the other night, he was a bit troubled, he was quite troubled."
Carol went on to add that some members of the Loose Women team had attempted to "comfort" the runner who we are not naming in a bid to make him feel more at ease.
"This is when this was the first time that I found this out," she added.
Following Phillip insisting that he didn't groom his lover, who he met when he was 15, Carol continued: "There is no question he did a bad thing.
"He did, obviously, mess with this young man's life. I don't know the official definition of grooming, but it's a bit weird that he knew this guy from a very, very young age when he was at the drama school and then suddenly he's like mentoring him, nurturing him.
"He's making the showreel, getting him a job and then suddenly, oh, they're having an affair, so it certainly looks like that but whether or not you know whether or not he officially did, it is classic grooming behaviour."
Carol claims that "numerous" stars of Loose Women were "angry" over having to work with Phillip's lover.
Phillip says he met his ex-lover aged 15 before a 'consensual moment' 5 years later.
"I did not, I did not (groom him)," he told The Sun, before going on to explain that he is aware of the accusations he is facing on social media, insisting that while their relationship was "unwise", he did not groom the man.
Schofield said the affair began in 2017 after a "consensual moment" in his dressing room.
He also denied claims that he was 'untouchable' and moved his former lover to Loose Women in a bid to 'cover up' their affair when it ended.
"I have never abused my power anywhere, I'm not a bully. You read the things you are supposed to be. I don't lord it over TV studios. Everyone is a friend.
"I've had texts from people I worked with saying 'Oh my God' I cant believe they are saying this we love working with you.'
"I snapped once at one of producers around the time I came out and after the meeting I went and apologised. It's not me I don't do that. I'm not rude on the studio floor. I don't lord it around."
