Phillip Schofield’s studio runner ex ‘will have his say’ in ITV probe

Phillip Schofield’s significantly younger ex who worked as a studio ‘runner’ on This Morning will reportedly use ITV’s external investigation into the scandal as a chance to “have his say”.

Jane Mulcahy KC, who is conducting the enquiry, will quiz the This Morning runner, who was in a relationship with the star, who was married at the time. Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV’s chief executive, informed MPs that week that the anonymous man, who is now in his twenties, was questioned 12 times by bosses investigating the relationship.

However, a source close reports the man claims he was never actually approached – and that the inquiry will allow him to tell his side of the story. A source said: “ITV have kept in touch with the man and there will be a very thorough investigation, where many people close to the situation will be asked questions.”

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“It will be his chance to have his say. It could most definitely lead to some difficult reading for ITV’s bosses if it turns out that he says he wasn’t asked about the relationship 12 times.”

Schofield, 61, told the BBC’s Amol Rajan in a frank interview two weeks ago that his TV career had been ended by the controversy. The MailOnline reports that This Morning bosses are frantically attempting to save the show, which was once described as the “jewel in ITV’s crown”.

A reported overhaul is currently being discussed after viewing figures fell to just over 500,000, with an expansion of the presenting team of fresh faces to attract new viewers being considered by executives. However mirrored alterations of the top team appear to be dead in the water, with This Morning’s editor Martin Frizell and ITV’s head of daytime Emma Gormley both refusing to leave their posts.

One source said: “Emma is holding meetings telling her staff that she ‘ain’t going nowhere’ and she really seems to mean it. Martin won’t budge either despite many of his staff on This Morning really wanting him to leave.

“They are desperate to save the show. They don’t want to lose the This Morning brand as it is so long standing and until very recently has been scandal free, but they know there needs to be changes to regain the viewers’ trust again.”

Holly Willoughby, reportedly has no intention to quit as host and is set to renegotiate her contract over the summer. Her close friend Alison Hammond is likely to be her on-screen partner.

Schofield first resigned as This Morning host last month before stunningly quitting ITV altogether after confessing to lying to the media, friends and his wife about his extramarital affair with the colleague, describing the relationship as “unwise but not illegal”.