ITV bosses tell staff to declare their friendships in new policy after Phillip Schofield scandal

ITV has updated it's policy on work relationships, months after Phillip Schofield admitted to having an "unwise but not illegall" affair with a younger male colleague.

The 61-year-old presenter caused a media storm back in May when he stepped down from hosting daytime show This Morning and revealed details of the affair, leading to him being dropped by his talent agency and cutting ties with his former co-stars.

It has now been reported that if ITV staff, along with freelancers, consultants, those on work experience, and contractors fail to declare a relationship then they face disciplinary action which could include termination of work, according to The Sunday Times.

The newspaper said that, in a new document, the broadcaster defines relationships as a friendship, sexual or romantic connection, or a family relative.

In a statement to the PA news agency, an ITV spokesperson said: “ITV has had in place a policy on relationships at work since October 2022. Like all of our people policies we keep them under review and update them periodically.

“The relationships at work policy was most recently reviewed and updated in October 2023.”

The document reportedly includes: “If a personal relationship exists between you and another colleague (whether it started prior to or during the course of your employment or engagement with ITV), both parties must disclose this to the company at the earliest opportunity.”

After Phillip's relationship was revealed earlier this year, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said an external review of how the company handled the affair would be led by Jane Mulcahy KC, of Blackstone Chambers.

Earlier this month, Phillip's long-time co-host, Holly Willoughby, announced she would also be leaving This Morning, after a tumultuous year in the role.

On the programme in June, she said the revelations about Phillip, who she previously had an extremely close relationship with, had left her “shaken, troubled, let down and worried”.

The 42-year-old presenter was not only left searching for a co-host to replace Phillip but she was also embroiled in a scandal last year when she and Phillip were accused of jumping the queue to visit The Queen while she was lying in state following her death in September 2022.

Following the tough time, Holly released a statement to social media to announce her resignation, sharing that it was an “honour to just be part of its story” for 14 years and that she had made “this decision for me and my family”.

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