Schofield's scandal spurs strict workplace relationship disclosure

Source: Sky News

ITV staff have been ordered to tell the company about personal relationships with colleagues after the Phillip Schofield scandal.

The presenter quit This Morning earlier this year after he revealed he had embarked on an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague.

He was also dropped by his talent agency.

ITV has since updated its policy on relationships between co-workers, which had been in place since October 2022.

It was reviewed and refreshed this month, the broadcaster said in a statement.

According to The Sunday Times, the document says: "If a personal relationship exists between you and another colleague (whether it started prior to or during the course of your employment or engagement with ITV), both parties must disclose this to the company at the earliest opportunity".

Those who don't will reportedly face disciplinary action that could include losing their job - and the move applies to freelancers, consultants, contractors and those on work experience.

Whistleblowers have also been urged to report any concerns internally, the newspaper added.

It comes after ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall announced an external review of how the company handled Schofield's affair.

She told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee last month that the lawyer leading the review, Jane Mulcahy, had interviewed multiple witnesses about how the scandal unfolded.

It sent ripples through ITV, which is also now contending with the departure of Schofield's long-time co-presenter Holly Willoughby.

The 41-year-old, who hosted This Morning for 14 years, said she was quitting "for me and my family".

On her return to the programme in June following Schofield's resignation, she said the revelations about him left her "shaken, troubled, let down and worried".

Schofield, 61, has been largely absent from the public eye since carrying a number of media interviews in the immediate wake of the scandal, where he apologised for what happened.

Despite criticism from his former bosses and Willoughby, he did receive support from stars including Sir Elton John, who branded coverage of the affair as "totally homophobic".