David Cameron interview on the set of
This Morning with
Phillip Schofield and
Holly Willoughby Amid the
Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal on 8 November 2012,
Phillip Schofield and
Holly Willoughby interviewed then Prime Minister
David Cameron. During the interview, Schofield presented Cameron with a list he had obtained from the internet of five people named as paedophiles in connection with the
North Wales child abuse scandal. The names of several former senior
Conservative politicians were visible on the list. Schofield was widely criticised for his action, Cameron responded by warning against a witch hunt, "particularly about people who are gay". ITV's director of television,
Peter Fincham, said that Schofield was "wrong" in confronting Cameron and said that the broadcaster had agreed to co-operate fully with government regulator
Ofcom's investigation into the matter. The investigation was initiated after Ofcom received 415 complaints from viewers. Schofield later apologised, blaming a misjudged camera angle.
Classism: 'It's a Toff Life' In 2018, some viewers and commentators criticised a segment titled "It's A Toff Life". Producers set a series of challenges for former
Made in Chelsea cast member
Georgia Toffolo that included completing tasks required of staff in
KFC and a sewage works. Some viewers deemed the segment "pathetically patronising" to watch Toffolo "slum it like ordinary folk for the day" and said the show was "patronising working-class people."
Boris Johnson selfie In December 2019, during the
2019 general election campaign, Schofield and Willoughby were criticised by some viewers for a "giggly" interview with then Prime Minister
Boris Johnson. The co-hosts' decision to take a
selfie with Johnson was also criticised by some viewers who raised a "lack of professionalism" and "clear bias". Schofield defended the selfie, writing: "Can I point out that if
Mr Corbyn had asked for a selfie, we would have happily obliged." Viewers argued that the pair had been more critical when interviewing Jeremy Corbyn, who faced repeated calls to apologise for accusations of
antisemitism in the Labour Party. Some viewers noted that
Islamophobia in the Conservative Party was not raised with Johnson.
"Spin to Win" Energy bills prize On 5 September 2022,
This Morning included a new prize of "energy bills" in their regular "spin to win" game. The prize equated to four months of payments, up to £400 each month. When a contestant failed to provide the qualifying passcode on air
This Morning ended the phone call, prompting Willoughby to say, "Well, we're not going to make Joyce's dreams come true." Schofield replied, "Well it's her fault." The inclusion of bill payments was compared to
Black Mirror or
The Hunger Games. Coverage from
Sky News asked "Is Russia using Phillip Schofield for propaganda?" after the game was reported on Russian state television. British politician
Mary Kelly Foy tweeted:I'm disgusted that @thismorning have used people being unable to afford their energy bills as some kind of twisted gameshow. The producers need to rethink this immediately! Everyone deserves dignity, especially if they're struggling.On 6 September 2022, Schofield referenced the controversy by saying, "I wonder how much of that they can complain about online." Ofcom received 170 complaints about the segment and it prompted widespread criticism from viewers and commentators. Ofcom's broadcasting code states that: "We would strongly advise broadcasters not to present a monetary prize as a possible resolution of financial difficulty." In a statement, ITV said that the pair was escorted from the
press gallery by government staff and did not file past the Queen's coffin. Social media users contrasted this with the actions of former prime minister
Theresa May and other celebrities including
David Beckham,
Susanna Reid and
Tim Vine, all of whom queued for many hours with members of the general public. Online petitions were also organised calling for the pair to be sacked.
Phillip Schofield's affair and resignation from ITV Following months of speculation about his private life, and widespread reports of a feud with Willoughby, Schofield presented
This Morning for the last time on 18 May 2023, after more than 20 years in the role. Two days later, he announced his departure from the programme with immediate effect, saying: "ITV has decided the current situation can't go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love." In the first broadcast after his exit, Hammond and O'Leary praised Schofield as "one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had". A broadcasting executive subsequently told
The Times that Willoughby had given ITV an ultimatum that either she or Schofield had to leave the programme. He had first met the co-worker while giving a talk at the drama school where the latter was then a 15-year-old student. Schofield later arranged a job interview for the co-worker at
This Morning, where he was hired as a production assistant. Schofield stated that the affair had begun when the co-worker was 20 years old, at which point Schofield was in his mid-50s, and admitted lying about it to ITV's management, his work colleagues, his lawyers, his agent and his friends and family. He resigned from ITV and apologised for his lies, while calling the relationship "consensual" and "unwise but not illegal." ITV said it had investigated rumours of a relationship between Schofield and the co-worker in early 2020, but that both men had repeatedly denied the affair.
Elton John said that "If it was a straight guy in a fling with a young woman, it wouldn't even make the papers" while
Jeremy Clarkson said "It seems to me he is only guilty of being what he said he was: gay."
Piers Morgan also supported Schofield, saying it was time for the media to stop "relentless persecution" of Schofield. Following his resignation, he gave separate interviews to BBC's
Amol Rajan and
The Sun in June 2023, in which he apologised to the co-worker for bringing the "greatest misery into his totally innocent life." He denied
grooming the man, and said that he had lied not to protect his own career but to preserve the co-worker's privacy. He said that the two had never been in a "love affair" and were still friends. He said his career was over; said he had "lost everything" and felt "utterly broken", embarrassed and ashamed; Although he acknowledged the age difference, Schofield said he believed
homophobia was a factor in the media coverage, suggesting that an affair with a woman would not have created such a scandal. Willoughby, who had previously said she was hurt that Schofield had lied to her when she asked about the rumours, returned to
This Morning on 5 June for the first time since his departure. Stating that she felt "shaken, troubled and let down," she said that everyone at the programme had given "love and support to someone who was not telling the truth." She expressed concern for Schofield's mental health, thanked viewers for their kindness and support, and said "what unites us all now is a desire to heal." Stating that it was "deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit" made by Schofield, ITV severed ties with him, and instructed a
King's Counsel to carry out an external review of its handling of the incident. ITV confirmed that
This Morning would continue without Schofield, The talent agency YMU dropped Schofield after representing him for 35 years, and the
Prince's Trust announced that it would no longer feature him as an ambassador, saying it was "no longer appropriate to work together." As a result of the controversy, ITV in October 2023 began requiring all workers at the network – including staff, consultants, contractors, freelancers, apprentices, and individuals on work experience – to disclose all personal relationships with colleagues. The policy applies to co-workers in romantic or sexual relationships, but also to those who are friends or relatives, who live in the same household, or who share other close connections. Failure to comply with the policy can result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
Alleged toxic culture Schofield wrote in his memoir that in 2009, co-presenter
Fern Britton accused him of meddling in the show and left because of this. Since the departure of Schofield, several people involved in the show have alleged a
toxic culture operated. Ruth Langsford made a complaint to ITV while she worked there. Eamonn Holmes stated Schofield was "a narcissist and a bully at the centre of the toxicity." Media personality and singer
Kerry Katona described it as "fake" and her interview (as a guest) by Schofield and Willoughby "belittling". Television personality
Kim Woodburn, who appeared on the show after leaving the
Celebrity Big Brother house, branded Schofield and Willoughby "phoney" and "two-faced" on the show. Dr
Ranj Singh said that in 2023, he had made an official complaint of a toxic culture and had been managed out. ITV confirmed that an external adviser carried out an investigation in 2021.
Nadine Dorries, a former
Culture Secretary, questioned the culture and working practices of the show. Questions over safeguarding and complaint handling by ITV were raised generally, and on 14 June 2023, ITV's chief executive
Carolyn McCall answered to MPs on the
Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Loose Women panellist
Carol McGiffin said
This Morning was "tainted", and her colleagues did not like the show or Schofield's handover to them. A former production staff member also criticised the working culture which led to her resignation. Schofield, Hammond and O'Leary all denied allegations of a toxic culture.
Cat Deeley's seizure comments On 17 June 2024, presenter
Cat Deeley caused controversy when she made comments about
seizures and was accused of "mocking" people who have had seizures. After returning from an ad break, Deeley was seen dancing and shimmying to
Meghan Trainor's "
All About That Bass", prompting co-presenter
Ben Shephard to laugh at her. She then declared: "Nothing to see here. Yeah, I'm fine, just having a seizure." Deeley's comments caused charity the
Epilepsy Society to react with the following social media post: "Seizures are no laughing matter for people with #epilepsy @catdeeley. Please do better and educated yourselves about this difficult and poorly understood condition, @thismorning." The following day, Deeley apologised for her comments on air, stating, "I just wanted to apologise to anyone who was offended yesterday when I made a light-hearted comment about my dancing style. It really wasn't supposed to cause any upset to anybody. But I can see why that might have been the case. So I do apologise and am very sorry for the upset." ==Ratings==