ITV has confirmed that it launched an investigation into Phillip Schofield three years ago following speculation that he was having an affair with a young colleague.
The 61-year-old left all of his roles at the broadcaster yesterday as he admitted to having a relationship with a runner on This Morning - a man aged in his early 20s - confirming long-held internet rumours of such an affair.
In a statement today, ITV said that both Schofield and the man in question were asked about the nature of their relationship at the time but both parties denied being romantically involved.
ITV 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."
The statement appears to suggest that Schofield's co-host Holly Willoughby had also been under the impression that the rumours were without merit.
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