This Morning hit with fresh claims of "bullying" and "discrimination"
This Morning and the wider ITV Daytime team are facing fresh allegations of toxic work cultures from both current and former employees.
A "large number of individuals" have claimed they’ve faced "further bullying and discrimination" after whistleblowing in the aftermath of the Phillip Schofield controversy.
In a letter published on Wednesday (August 9), the House of Commons media committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage revealed the committee has received allegations of bullying and discrimination.
Related: Holly Willoughby addresses Phillip Schofield controversy upon This Morning return
These fresh claims have been made since Members of Parliament questioned ITV’s chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall back in June.
MPs had quizzed McCall about an alleged toxic culture on This Morning, which came to light following Schofield’s exit from the show.
The new complaints claim employees raised concerns with ITV about "toxic working cultures" following McCall’s appearance at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee but whistleblowing didn’t help.
According to Dinenage, the individuals affected instead allege 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".
"These individuals speak with great pride about working at ITV and are hugely positive about many of their colleagues," she explained. "However, they also raise claims of toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harassment."
"It is easy to understand why those individuals, especially where they have left ITV and do not wish to relive their traumatic experiences, do not feel capable of attempting to report their concerns, or that ITV will take them seriously," Dinenage wrote.
Related: This Morning's Alison Hammond in tears over Phillip Schofield interview
In response to these new claims, ITV's McCall has asked the committee to continue to "encourage individuals to contact ITV via our reporting line SafeCall", where reports can be made confidentially or anonymously.
She also noted individuals can contact Jane Mulcahy KC, the barrister leading an external review of how ITV handled Schofield’s affair and the fallout.
"As we made clear to you and the committee, we are absolutely committed to enabling people to raise any issues or complaints they may have about working at ITV," McCall said.
"We always take these seriously and will investigate and take whatever action is appropriate. However, we are unable to do so if we cannot engage with those people."
She added that the external review of ITV is expected to be completed in September.
This Morning airs on weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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