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ITV to launch external review into Phillip Schofield’s controversial This Morning exit

The broadcaster says it's keen to "establish the facts".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 1st June 2023

ITV has confirmed that it is commissioning an external review into Phillip Schofield’s controversial departure from This Morning.

It comes after the 61-year-old announced back on 20 May that he was to step down from presenting the ITV daytime show with immediate effect, after first taking over presenting reins in 2002 and fronting the programme for the past 21 years.

Alongside co-presenter Holly Willoughby, Schofield became a well-known face on daytime television and went on to win numerous awards for his presenting work over the past two decades – but rumours began swirling that his professional relationship and off-screen friendship with Willoughby had soured.

Schofield explained that the unconfirmed rift between himself and his co-presenter, as well as the fact “This Morning itself has become the story”, lead to his decision to depart to the show.

Schofield’s stepping down from the presenting role also comes after he had taken several weeks off-air recently – some as pre-planned leave, and some while his brother, Timothy Schofield, faced trial for sexual abuse against a teenage boy.

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Phillip Schofield had presented the daytime TV show since 2002 before stepping down / Credit: ITV

Following his already-controversial exit, Schofield then issued a formal statement confirming he had an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague last Friday, and resigned from ITV all together after admitting to both the affair, and to lying about it.

ITV has now confirmed it has now instructed a barrister to carry out an external review into the situation to “establish the facts”.

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Ahead of the broadcaster’s executives appearing before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committe next week, and being quizzed by MPs over their handling of the situation at This Morning, ITV’s Dame Carolyn McCall said in a letter – as seen by the PA News Agency, and reported by Sky News, BBC News, ITV News, and more – said they are taking the matter “extremely seriously”.

ITV has commissioned an external review into the presenter’s controversial This Morning exit / Credit: ITV

She wrote: “You will have seen the significant media coverage concerning Phillip Schofield [and] as you would expect, we take the matter extremely seriously and have reviewed our own records over the weekend.

“Given the ongoing rumours, we continued to ask questions of both parties, who both continued to deny the rumours, including as recently as this month.

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“There has been a lot of inaccuracy in the reporting so I thought it would be useful to set out some facts.”

Featured Image – Ken McKay (via ITV)

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Digital driving licences will be introduced across the UK later this year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Digital driving licences are set to be introduced across the UK later this year, it has been announced.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today that, before 2025 is out, Brits will be given the option to use a digital version of their driver’s licence from their phone to easily prove their age when buying age restricted items online and in person, as well as proving their right to drive.

A mobile driver’s licence is set to be one of the first digital documents in a GOV.UK wallet app that’s being launched later this year.

The new wallet will allow users to securely store Government-issued documents on their phone, such as DBS checks, Veteran Cards, and loads more, as well as driving licences, and use them easily when needed by making use of a range of security features that are built into modern smart phones – including facial recognition checks.

According to the Government, the new service means that digital documents will be more secure, even if a device is lost. 

Traditional physical documents will still remain available, however.

Digital driving licences will be introduced across the UK later this year / Credit: GDS

The mobile driver’s licence will be piloted later in 2025, and all Government services will have to offer a digital alternative, alongside paper or card credentials, by the end of 2027 under plans set out by the blueprint for digital Government.

“This is a game changer for the millions of people who use their driving licence as ID,” commented Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander.

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“The innovation puts power back in the hands of the people, making everyday interactions faster, easier, and more secure. We are delivering on the Plan for Change by making public services work for everyone.”

Featured Image – Pxhere

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Plans to bring Greater Manchester’s rail services onto the Bee Network unveiled

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Ambitious plans to bring all rail services in Greater Manchester onto the Bee Network have been unveiled this week.

After the success of all the region’s buses returning to local control at the start of the year, Mayor Andy Burnham has set out Greater Manchester’s step-by-step plan to bring rail into the Bee Network by 2028, working alongside the rail industry to do this as the next part of his joined-up ‘London-style’ public transport system, which is intended to boost passenger numbers, and drive growth across the region.

Developed in partnership with the rail industry, Department for Transport (DfT) and Shadow Great British Rail, Mr Burnham says his plan is aimed at not only improving transport but unlocking major regeneration and housing opportunities on land around the region’s stations too.

Greater Manchester’s proposition is for eight commuter rail lines, covering 64 stations, to be brought into the Bee Network in three phases over the next five years.

Under the plan, the first two lines – which will work to connect Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge, in Tameside – will join the Bee Network by December 2026, and then a further 32 stations, and all lines within Greater Manchester, would join by 2030.

According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), by 2028, the plan for Bee Network rail integration is scheduled to deliver the long-awaited ‘tap in, tap out’ contactless ticketing system, and simpler integrated capped fares across all bus, tram, and train services.

Not only that, but Greater Manchester leaders have also committed to working with the Government and the rail industry to “improve reliability” and “implement service changes” to help drive growth too.

Another major change is that TfGM has said it will work with the rail industry to accelerate the delivery of accessibility improvements – with more than 60% of stations on the eight lines set to have step-free access by 2028, compared to 43% at the end of 2024.

“Our rail system today is acting as a brake on growth and, as the UK’s fastest growing city-region, Greater Manchester deserves better,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, as he unveiled his plans this week.

Andy Burnham urges Greater Manchester residents to ‘switch to the Bee Network’ in 2025

“We need a railway that is reliable and fully integrated with the rest of the Bee Network to drive growth and deliver new homes with public transport connections on the doorstep.

“Our plan puts passengers first by delivering a simplified, joined-up public transport network, with better services, stations and overall experience. Only by making travel by train more reliable, simpler, flexible and accessible to everyone, will we convince more people to leave the car at home and make the switch to the Bee Network.”

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If everything goes according to plan, it’s expected to boost the number of trips by train by 1.3 million each year.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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