ITV bosses make HUGE changes to This Morning as they ban under 18s from working at show after scandal

ITV has made some big modifications to This Morning after final yr’s scandal, one in every of which sees underneath 18s forbidden from engaged on the present.

The Solar has learnt bosses are barring minors from being employed on the channel altogether, whereas making it more durable for workers to assist out family and friends members underneath a ‘nepotism’ ban.

These modifications have come into pressure after Phillip Schofield, 62, confessed he’d been mendacity about having an affair with a youthful member of the manufacturing crew in Could 2023.

The runner, who was a minimum of 30 years Schofield’s junior, began at ITV in 2017 following Phil’s advice, with the presenter admitting they shared a second in his dressing room that very same yr.

Ex daytime host Phil subsequently left the station and refused to participate in an ITV probe into the connection, in addition to a parliamentary inquiry.

With the brand new orders presently in impact, a supply has advised how channel chiefs are eager to be taught from earlier classes and guarantee everybody feels secure within the work surroundings.

The insider mentioned: “ITV doesn’t need something just like the Schofield scandal taking place once more in order that they’re tightening their insurance policies big-time.

“They’re making it more durable for family and friends members of senior workers to get a job right here in order that there is no suggestion of nepotism – or the rest.

“One producer’s son is working as a runner however is just allowed to do it as a result of he is based mostly in a distinct division.

“The principles at the moment are whiter than white about hiring. No extra 16 or 17 yr olds anymore, both. It is 18 and over.”

In truth, it seems ITV was hiring youngsters even youthful, with outdated careers websites promoting a weeklong ‘Expertise Programme’ focused in direction of 14-17 yr olds.

Whereas their Apprenticeship Programme remains to be working, the 16+ age requirement has now been bumped as much as 18, as said on the official net web page.

Final yr, it was revealed that staffers had been to declare all office relationships too.

ITV declined to remark when contacted by The Solar.

Phil left the limelight following his solely interview after the scandal.

He advised us about his remorse over his affair and mentioned he would “die sorry” for his actions.

Phil separated from his spouse of 27 years Stephanie in 2020 after popping out as homosexual.

Regardless of his affair admission, the couple — who’ve two grown-up daughters — stay shut, with mates saying Stephanie has been supportive of him.

Nonetheless, Phil’s relationship with Holly Willoughby is completed, with the scandal rocking the ITV daytime present.

Phil added in his interview: “I’ve misplaced my greatest good friend. I let her down. I let that complete present down. I let the viewers down.

“Holly didn’t know [about the romance]. And she or he was one of many first texts that I despatched, to say, ‘I’m so, so sorry that I lied to you’.

“She didn’t reply and I perceive why she didn’t reply, as nicely.”

Phil has remained pleasant with others at ITV, with Stephen Mulhern remaining in touch with him alongside a raft of different huge names together with Declan Donnelly.

Insiders mentioned Phil was additionally nonetheless shut with various producers and crew members from the present.

Following his exit final yr, bosses performed an inner investigation into claims of a “poisonous tradition” on This Morning.

Their report said that of the 48 individuals who spoke to barrister Jane Mulcahy, just one knew of the affair.

The evaluation additionally discovered that ITV made “appreciable efforts” to seek out out the reality concerning the relationship however was “unable to uncover the related proof” till Phil spoke about it publicly.

In her report, Jane Mulcahy KC mentioned: “I’ve little question senior administration are completely wedded to the significance of an open tradition.

“However this tradition remains to be not filtering all the way down to junior workers, lots of whom stay satisfied that to talk out can have a detrimental affect on their careers.”

Holly later stepped down from This Morning following an alleged kidnap plot towards her.

In December, The Solar was the primary to disclose how Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd had been formally drafted in to exchange them.

Nonetheless, scores haven’t recovered for the reason that Holly and Phil fallout and have dipped to round 650,000 per episode.

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