ITV’s top boss has claimed Phillip Schofield and his lover denied they were having a relationship multiple times.
Dame Carolyn McCall insists the network took action to investigate when they were told about rumours of an affair.
In a session with MPs yesterday on the culture and media committee, she said: “We were repeatedly told nothing was happening”, and both men denied it both formally and informally.
READ MORE: Eamonn Holmes hits back as fan slams him over 'persecution' of Phillip Schofield
“There was only hearsay and rumour and speculation… Nobody on the board would have turned a blind eye to something as serious as this,” she added.
McCall also hit back at claims by broadcaster Piers Morgan and rugby hunk James Haskell that the affair was an open secret at ITV.
She said: “The people that have said they knew would only have heard rumours.”
She added: “If any one of the individuals you referenced had come to us and said there is evidence of a relationship, with evidence, we would’ve been able to launch a formal investigation, because the imbalance of power and dynamics makes it deeply inappropriate.”
Dame Carolyn confirmed Mr Schofield is “receiving counselling” since his exit and she is “very concerned” about his welfare.
She also confirmed there is “no gagging order or NDA” to stop the unnamed younger lover speaking out about the situation.
Speaking about the affair, Phillip said: "I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
"Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.
"That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over."
He added that he was resigning from ITV with "immediate effect" and that he was immensely grateful to them for the opportunities they gave him over the years.
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