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.
“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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Teen arrested after hiding in wheelie bin following attempted burglary in Bolton
Emily Sergeant
A teenage boy has been arrested after police found him hiding in a wheelie bin during the early hours of the morning.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, at around 3:50am this past Saturday morning (24 October), officers from the Bolton Neighbourhood Team were called to reports of a ‘disturbance’ on Ullswater Drive, in the Farnworth area of Bolton.
Upon arrival, police discovered that a group of people had attempted to break into a garden shed and steal items.
Following a police chase on foot and searches of surrounding gardens, officers found a 17-year-old boy hiding inside a wheelie bin, and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary.
A 16-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, and they have both been bailed while the investigation continues.
Enquiries remain ongoing to identify and locate others who police believe to have been involved in the incident.
Sergeant Emily Fogg, from GMP’s Bolton Neighbourhood Team, said the boy ‘clearly did a rubbish job’ of hiding from police.
“Our policing teams are committed to rooting our criminality in our communities and will continue to seek justice for victims of this invasive crime,” Sergeant Fogg concluded.
Anyone with information the can assist the investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting the log number 475 of 24/10/26.
Featured Image – Rawpixel
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National Lottery hunts for Tameside player who’s not claimed £1m winnings
Daisy Jackson
The hunt is on to find a National Lottery player in Tameside who’s won £1m – and not claimed it.
The missing millionaire won the huge prize on a Lotto ticket bought on Wednesday 1 July, somewhere in the Borough of Tameside.
But with just two months to go until the prize expires, the player has still not come forward to claim their winnings.
The winning numbers in were 5, 8, 26, 33, 39, 42 and the Bonus Ball was 54.
Now, the National Lottery is renewing its search for the millionaire, calling for the mystery winner to cash in their prize before it expires at midnight on 28 December.
National Lottery Senior Winners’ Advisor Andy Carter has been out in Tameside ‘hunting’ for the missing millionaire, visiting everywhere from Portland Basin to Hartshead Pike.
Andy said: “I’ve searched high and low across Tameside for our missing millionaire, but I’ve had no luck.
National Lottery hunts for Tameside player who’s not claimed £1m winnings. Credit: Anthony Devlin/Assignments/Press Association
“With just two months left to claim this £1 million prize, now is the time for anyone who bought a Lotto ticket in Tameside for the 1 July draw to have another look.
“The winning ticket could be tucked away somewhere completely ordinary, while its owner has absolutely no idea they are a millionaire.
“We’d love to find the person we’ve been looking for and turn this search into a celebration. So, if you bought a ticket in the area, dig it out, check those numbers and help us find Tameside’s missing millionaire. It could be you.”
With all National Lottery draws, players have 180 days from the day of the draw to claim their prize if they have the winning ticket. Anyone who has any queries or who believes they have the winning ticket for any of the National Lottery draws within the 180-day deadline should call the National Lottery Line on 0333 234 5050 or email [email protected].
Emily Sergeant -
1st June 2023 
