ITV has said it investigated “rumours of a relationship” between Phillip Schofield and a younger employee – but the pair “repeatedly denied” the affair.

The statement came after questions were raised over what network bosses knew about the conduct of the veteran broadcaster.

Fellow former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes had said Schofield was “not the only guilty party” that claimed top management “knew what sort of man he was”.

An ITV spokesperson said: “Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.

“Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.

“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.

“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”

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