ITV responds following reports This Morning is going to be axed amid Phillip Schofield revelation

ITV has spoken out on rumours that This Morning is being axed following the scandal surrounding former presenter Phillip Schofield.

The affair happened while he was still married to Stephanie Lowe, and before he came out in 2020.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Schofield said: "I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.

“The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning.

"I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.

"That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over."

ITV later revealed in a statement that rumours of a relationship between Schofield and a younger colleague had been investigated, but Schofield 'repeatedly denied' it.

Holly Willoughby has since taken to social media to express her thoughts on her former colleague, writing in an Instagram post: “It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.

"It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”

Following Schofield's departure, rumours have started swirling that This Morning will be cancelled. However, ITV has denied that this is the case.

A spokesperson for ITV said in a statement: "As we said on the record yesterday, This Morning is not under review and there's no plans for the show to be axed.

"This Morning will return as normal tomorrow [Monday]."