Dr. Zoe Williams of This Morning believes the show is back to ‘normal’ after accusations of a’strained relationship’ between Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary surfaced.
Just a few weeks ago, longstanding broadcaster Phillip Schofield, 61, acknowledged to having an extramarital affair with a younger male colleague, arguing it was “unwise but not unlawful.”
Rumours of ‘stress’ on This Morning began days before his shocking confession, with reports that Schofield and Holly Willoughby were ‘barely communicating’ behind the scenes.
Holly, 42, has been hosting alongside Craig Doyle, Josie Gibson, Dermot, and Alison since his departure.
According to recent reports, Big Brother actress Alison, 48, and former X Factor host Dermot, 50, have a’strained’ relationship that is ‘worrying’ producers.
ITV has now dismissed the accusations, while the duo has filled in for Holly and welcomed their return to This Morning despite the ‘nonsense’ gossip.
Dr. Zoe, who has provided viewers medical advice for several years, has now spoken out about the show, saying she believes everything is ‘business as usual’ after employees were originally concerned about their employment during the uproar.
She told HELLO Magazine: ‘It feels like everything’s back to business as normal now. More than anything, I’ve really felt for the staff and the people in the production office. It’s a big team and we all get on.
‘There was a point where I think everybody felt that their jobs were in jeopardy, and there are people who’ve worked on the show for decades.
‘It’s been a really emotional and difficult time, but I think we’re out the other end.’
After former Dancing on Ice host Schofield – who has daughters Molly, 30, and Ruby, 27, with wife Stephanie Lowe – left the broadcaster after nearly 20 years, some stars claimed there is a ‘toxic’ culture at ITV, but chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall insisted there have only been two complaints of such an’issue’ in five years, and both were ‘taken very seriously’.
Former This Morning guest Dr Ranj Singh has spoken out about the ‘toxic’ atmosphere, while GB News anchor Eamonn Holmes has called Holly a ‘big mouth’ while accusing Schofield of being a ‘lie’.
Eamonn accused Holly and Schofield of being ‘drunk’ when hosting This Morning, and said Holly was ‘using’ Alison. He also claimed that neither Holly nor Schofield knew the identities of anyone behind the scenes of This Morning.
When asked about charges of a “toxic” atmosphere at This Morning, Dame Carolyn told a government committee, “What I would say is that it’s not something that we take that seriously.”
‘What I know is that when we talk about culture it’s incredibly important to me, personally and so it deeply disappoints me, right?
‘But we do not recognise that in This Morning and the reason for that is that we have tangible evidence to tell you that the vast majority of people at daytime and at This Morning are extremely engaged and very motivated.
‘That’s not to say we don’t take complaints about it seriously. We’ve had two complaints in five years about that issue. Both of them taken very seriously.’
Schofield, who has been a stalwart on British television since the 1980s and has hosted This Morning since 2002, apologised to his former colleague and stated he will “never forgive” himself for getting involved with the young guy in his first interview since the news broke.
He told the BBC: ‘To him [the young man in question], I am the most sorry. By getting involved with me, I have caused you so much pain, and I…I will never forgive myself. I made a bad judgement call.
‘And that if only you knew, in one moment, if I’d had the judgment I’d had for 41 years, if I’d used it in that moment, things would be very different for everybody.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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