ITV is to publish a talent “charter” setting out key standards expected from its high-profile presenters following the publication of the long-awaited Phillip Schofield review, which rejected the notion that there was a “toxic culture” on This Morning.
Led by Jane Mulcahy KC, the review made several recommendations following the Schofield scandal that led to his resignation but denied there was a toxic culture on This Morning.
Schofield resigned from This Morning in disgrace in May and was dropped by his agency YMU after admitting to a years-long affair with a much younger colleague. Soon after, ITV instructed Mulcahy to review the facts around Schofield shortly after his departure.
Mulcahy’s set of recommendations included the forging of the charter that would set “out key standards ITV expects to be upheld,” the first of its kind.
Other recommendations included ITV making increased efforts to ensure that This Morning and the daytime team embraces its “Speaking Up” policy “at every level.”
“In particular, managers should ensure that all staff know there is a safe space to complain or raise concerns,” said the review. “No-one should be worried that their job will be at risk because they have raised an issue.”
Having considered nine complaints since 2016 and eight diverse concerns articulated in response to the review, Mulcahy said ITV largely succeeds in applying policies and procedures but stressed that these procedures would better function if “people were more confident to air their concerns in the first place.”
Other recommendations included a review of the structure of This Morning and daytime to ensure close and centralized control of both production and editorial, revisting its HR structures and centralizing employee information.
ITV should also put in place “open and direct” routes for communication with freelancers and “clarify the routes for handling complaints raised about or related to ITV talent.”
“Toxic culture”
ITV accepted the recommendations in full and welcomed Mulcahy’s claim that there was “no finding of a ‘toxic culture’ [on This Morning] and had there been one she would have said so.”
ITV bosses had been grilled by the UK’s Culture, Media & Sport Committee but denied any hard evidence was ever provided about the affair and rejected the notion of a toxic culture on This Morning. More individuals have, however, since raised concerns of a toxic culture. Schofield’s long-time co-presenter, Holly Willoughby, has left since Schofield, following a foiled plot to kidnap her.
The behavior of on-screen talent behind the camera has been the subject of much chatter this year following scandals involving Huw Edwards and James Martin.
