'Large number' of This Morning staff warn of ‘toxic culture’ after Schofield scandal

ok.co.uk:

In June, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall faced questions from MPs about former host Phillip Schofield’s exit from the show amid allegations that the programme was fostering a bullying culture that had been described as toxic.

In correspondence published on Wednesday, Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, told Dame Carolyn that a group of This Morning employees past and present had since raised similar claims to Parliament.

In the letter dated July 24, Dame Caroline wrote: “In the month that has passed since your appearance before the committee, we have been contacted by a large number of individuals who have identified themselves as currently working or previously having worked on This Morning or as part of the wider ITV Daytime team. “These individuals speak with great pride about working at ITV and are hugely positive about many of their colleagues. “However, they also raise claims of toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harassment. “Some of those individuals who have contacted us have described how their decision to raise concerns within ITV has led to further bullying and discrimination, and in some cases having to leave the organisation with a settlement agreement.” Dame Caroline said it is “easy to understand” why the individuals left ITV and “do not wish to relive their traumatic experiences”, as well as believing ITV will not take them seriously.

In a response, Dame Carolyn asked the parliamentary committee to “encourage individuals to contact ITV via our reporting line SafeCall” through which reports can be made confidentially or anonymously.