ITV bosses are to be grilled by MPs next week over the dramatic events surrounding the resignation of This Morning host Phillip Schofield.
A source on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee has said that the channel’s bosses had been diaried in to appear before the committee on Tuesday next week to talk about the Draft Media Bill.
But it is understood that the committee has also informed them that they will be expected to answer issues of public concern regarding the Schofield revelations.
Schofield quit This Morning after an apparent falling out with his former co-host Holly Willoughby but it was quickly followed by revelations that he had a sexual affair with a teenage member of staff on the show.
The former This Morning host has been branded a liar by fellow presenters including Eamonn Holmes who dubbed him the “chief narcissist”.
READ MORE: Fears Schofield scandal has left Holly and This Morning brand ‘tainted’
Holmes was brought on to the show when Schofield revealed that he is gay and now believes he and others were lied to after Schofield admitted to the affair with the teenage employee and it has led to allegations of a cover-up at ITV.
A source on the CMS committee has told Express.co.uk that MPs want answers to what has happened at ITV and whether there was a cover-up to protect Schofield.
One of the executives expected to be under the spotlight is ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall, who previously worked at the Guardian.
Over the weekend GB News presenter Dan Wootton alleged she previously told him claims against Schofield were “malicious”.
McCall forced out stars like Jeremy Clarkson, Eamonn Holmes and Piers Morgan with critics claiming she wanted to turn ITV “woke” but is accused of protecting Schofield.
The CMS committee has a newly elected chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage who promised in her pitch to MPs that she would make it “more nimble” in responding to events.
A committee source confirmed that ITV bosses have been warned they will be expected to answer questions on the Schofield fallout as well as the Draft Media Bill.
Among the issues that MPs want to ask are about any potential cover-up to protect, procedures on protecting young and vulnerable staff, and whether executives believe they were lied to.
The source added: “We are keen to look at the potential use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in this space too.”
The row has seen ITV lose advertisers and raised questions over whether This Morning could be axed.
