British TV host Phillip Schofield was pictured with the young male aide at the centre of his sex scandal as early as 2018, when he hosted a This Morning Live event.
The shamed star was seen with the ITV runner, with whom he had an affair behind his wife’s back, and co-host Holly Willoughby.
Staff sources say his closeness to the assistant was raising eyebrows as he insisted only he would help with his wardrobe and food, The Sun reports.
An insider said: “It was odd — suddenly this new young staff member was glued to Phillip’s side.
“It was made clear to all other staff he was Phillip’s chosen aide — even though at times Phillip was quite abrasive towards him.”
Schofield broke his silence on social media on Monday morning, UK time, railing against claims that his show, This Morning, suffered from a culture of bullying.
“Now I no longer work on This Morning, I am free to say this,” he wrote.
“I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.
“This Morning is the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked there, there was no toxicity. You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you like, but the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know it is a family of wonderful, talented, hardworking people.”
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s director of television, has denied that an investigation into Schofield’s affair with his young colleague had been bungled.
When asked by Sky News if mistakes had been made during the probe carried out by ITV in 2020, he simply replied: “No.”
This is despite claims eight stars had previously complained about the relationship and Schofield’s “toxic” behaviour.
Boss Kevin declined to comment further on the issue, saying only: “Honestly, we‘ve made a statement today [and] yesterday. I think it’s all clear.”
The television network previously said it has “no plans” to take This Morning off the air.
Schofield initially left the show he‘d been presenting for 21 years over a growing feud with pal and co-host Holly Willoughby.
His departure was also fuelled by his brother Tim being outed as a paedophile.
Just six days later, he made a bombshell revelation about the “consensual on-off relationship” – leaving him no choice but to quit ITV altogether.
ITV said no one employed on the daytime show knew of the affair as Schofield “lied” to everyone.
On Saturday a 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.”
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission