Morninggate - Daily Mail: Holly Willoughby 'cooperating in Phillip Schofield scandal inquiry'

Story from Daily Mail:

Holly Willoughby has reportedly spoken to the barrister in charge of the independent inquiry into the Phillip Schofield affair scandal.

It is said that the This Morning host, 42, has 'fully complied and cooperated with everything that has been asked of her by the KC', reports The Mirror.

ITV was thrown into turmoil earlier this year following 61-year-old Philip's admission to an 'unwise but not illegal' relationship with a much younger colleague, with the host eventually stepping down from ITV altogether.

In the months surrounding the scandal, This Morning has faced much criticism with ITV staff quizzed on exactly what they knew of the affair, leading to the broadcaster announcing they were bringing in Jane Mulcahy KC to 'carry out an external review to establish the facts'.

And now it's been reported that Holly has played her part in the inquiry amid her insistence she knew nothing of Phillip's affair, with her pals allegedly insisting that she has 'nothing to hide'.

A source told The Mirror: 'Holly was more than happy to do what was asked of her, and explain her position, and what she knew, and what she didn’t.'

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Holly Willoughby for comment. 8-Jane Mulcahy KC has been drafted in to lead the external review of the facts surrounding the scandal and is expected to publish her findings in September.

It's said that Holly is one of a number of people who work at This Morning who've assisted Jane with her enquiries.

Meanwhile, senior ITV executives, including boss Kevin Lygo, have also been spoken to amid the ongoing inquiry.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival this week, the ITV managing director said: 'She [Mulcahy] has been talking to everybody involved, they take your phone and look at every single text you've ever sent, email, WhatsApp.

'So, everything is available, lots of interviews, talking to everybody and I hope as soon as possible, but probably in September, she will make that public.'

Addressing how ITV handles duty of care, he added: 'We do, trust me, take it incredibly seriously.

'We haven't got anything to hide and if we can adapt and change our process to make it better, then we should do it on a continuing basis.'

ITV bosses have been under pressure to admit what they knew and when about the veteran presenter's fling with a much younger colleague. They previously refused to answer questions from the Mail about the investigation they claimed to have carried out in 2020 and over whether a new probe would be opened.

Earlier this year, In ITV's first concession of potential wrongdoing over the scandal, personnel chief David Osborn has informed staff of the review, hoping to quell growing discontent.

Under-fire chief executive Carolyn McCall sent an almost identical letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, culture committee chairman Dame Caroline Dinenage and TV regulator Ofcom.

Dame Carolyn wrote: 'You will have seen the significant media coverage concerning Phillip Schofield. As you would expect we take the matter extremely seriously and have reviewed our own records over the weekend.' She said ITV investigated 'when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in late 2019/early 2020'.

Her letter went on: 'Both parties were questioned then and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours...

'In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on the This Morning and wider daytime team and were not provided with and did not find any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.

'Given the ongoing rumours, we continued to ask questions of both parties, who both continued to deny the rumours, including as recently as this month.'

But this week sources close to the former production assistant said he insisted he was never asked about the relationship by ITV.

Further questions emerged when Eamonn Holmes, who presented the Friday edition of This Morning until 2021, claimed the young lover was ferried to work from Schofield's home in ITV taxis – after the assistant and Schofield enjoyed 'playtime Thursdays'.

Dame Carolyn's letter ended: 'We have now instructed Jane Mulcahy KC (Blackstone Chambers) to carry out an external review to establish the facts. She will review our records and talk to people involved. This work will also consider our relevant processes... and whether we need to change or strengthen any.'

Ms Mulcahy, 62, earlier this year represented the England and Wales Cricket Board as it brought a charge of alleged racism against former England captain Michael Vaughan, who was later cleared. She also acted for former BBC China editor Carrie Gracie in her successful equal pay fight.

In a bombshell statement to the Mail, Schofield admitted he had lied about an on-off relationship with the man, which took place while he was married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe, mother to his two grown-up daughters.

Dame Carolyn said in her letter that she would 'set out some facts' following what she was said was 'a lot of inaccuracy in the reporting'.

The Mail on Sunday revealed that Schofield met his lover when he was 15 and the presenter was in his late 40s, giving a talk to a theatre school as a favour to a friend.

The relationship began after the would-be runner, having turned 18, moved to London and began working on This Morning.