ITV managing director Kevin Lygo has hit out at Eamonn Holmes criticism about the network and Phillip's Schofield's departure from This Morning, saying that he 'reaped the rewards' while he was at ITV.
Former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield, 61, stepped down from hosting the ITV last month amid ongoing rumours of a feud between himself and his co-star Holly Willoughby.
Just six days later, Phillip announced that he would be stepping down from all his duties at ITV after his bombshell affair confession, and what ensued next was a storm of criticism and abuse from his former ITV co-stars as well the public who felt let down by his lies.
One particular star who has been incredibly vocal about Phillip's 'unwise but not illegal' affair and ITV's handling of the situation is Eamonn Holmes - Phillip's former This Morning co-star.
As well as calling Phillip 'nasty' and a 'narcissist', Eamonn, 63, claimed that ITV bosses 'covered up' the affair that 'everyone knew about'.
Following the claims, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall appeared in a parliamentary committee to answer questions about the broadcaster’s approach to safeguarding and complaint handling after Phillip's exit from This Morning.
The chief executive is facing questions from MPs on the This Morning row at a session of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee.
Carolyn, 61, is facing questions from MPs alongside ITV managing director Kevin Lygo and general counsel and company secretary Kyla Mullins about the This Morning row.
Asked about former ITV talent, such as Eamonn Holmes, who have spoken out in the wake of Schofield’s departure, Kevin Lygo said that such former presenters often feel they have a 'divine right' to stay on the network and in turn, hit out when things go wrong for others still at the network.
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“It’s not surprising, is it, that when they go, they’re like, ‘Hate ITV, it’s awful.’ When the decade they were there, they were reaping the rewards and enjoying the job and everybody seemed to get on,” Kevin said.
Former This Morning host Eamonn hasn't been keeping his thoughts to himself following Phillip departure from the show.
Eamonn has had a long-running feud with Phil, and after Phil announced his departure from This Morning, followed by his bombshell confession that he had an affair with a young male employee, Eamonn has frequently criticised his former colleague in a series of vicious rants.
Most recently, during Monday’s show on GB News, Eamonn launched into a furious tirade against the This Morning presenter, and invited people to get in touch if they had 'kissed Phillip Schofield '.
“I put it to anyone watching today that if you have kissed Phillip Schofield let us know. Let us see if that figure of one grows to the figure that I believe it is probably at,” Eamonn fumed.
“He’s admitted he is a liar. You should see the emails, the texts and the messages I’ve been sent over the past week. I think he’s getting off very very lucky,” the Belfast-born presenter added.
“Like everybody else he lied to me, I was happy to stand by him until I found out that he was lying... This isn’t about him being gay, not in the slightest,” Eamonn insisted.
However, fans called for him to stop making comments about Phil as one wrote: “I can’t believe people talk this way about another human being the way they do in this cowardly anonymous way, it’s still bullying.
“He has made a mistake and we are all allowed to be forgiven.”
“It’s disgusting and frightening the way he has spouted off,” another added, as they accused Eamonn of “being mad at ITV ”.
Today's parliament session with ITV bosses also covered ITV’s initial investigation into rumours regarding Schofield, the ITV-commissioned review into the facts by barrister Jane Mulcahy KC, the working culture on This Morning and other productions, as well as ITV’s use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and its whistleblowing policy.
