ITV have hit back at This Morning editor’s bizarre comments when questioned by a Sky reporter.
This Morning programme editor Martin Frizell was questioned when leaving his home on Monday morning ahead of the return of presenter Holly Willoughby to the beleaguered show. When asked by a Sky News reporter about the allegations that This Morning is a ‘toxic’ place to work, Frizell responded by stating that aubergines are toxic, adding “do you like aubergine?“
ITV’s director of strategy, policy and regulation, Magnus Brooke, was asked about the comments by MPs at the Culture Committee. Brooke said that Frizell’s comments were “extremely ill-judged to say what he did” when quizzed by John Nicolson, SNP MP committee member, about how seriously the editor of programme takes complaints from staff members.
During the hearing, Magnus Brooke stated that ITV has a “…significant system of safeguarding and duty of care” and a set of policies which everyone adheres to. The broadcaster announced last week that it had instructed a barrister to conduct a review into how it dealt with the relationship between former This Morning host Phillip Schofield and a much younger staff member. ITV says it wants to “establish the facts” and will public the findings when received.
ITV’s chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall will attend the committee next week where she will be quizzed on the saga which has engulfed the commercial network.
