Piers Morgan has hit out claims no one at ITV knew about Phillip Schofield 's affair with a younger colleague as he says the "building was abuzz" with rumours.
The former Good Morning Britain host has claimed "everybody at ITV knew" about the situation between Phillip and the colleague.
It comes after the This Morning star quit the show after 21 years and a week later quit ITV after admitting he had lied about having a sexual relationship with a junior member of the production team.
When questioned about rumours of a relationship, Schofield later admitted that he lied to his bosses, agent, presenting partner Holly Willoughby and his family.
Now, the controversial broadcaster has claimed the affair was an open secret at ITV.
"The one thing I know for sure, is a lot of people at ITV knew about these rumours, about this relationship. I mean everybody knew at ITV, right, let’s be crystal clear," he said on his TalkTV show, Piers Morgan Uncensored.
"That building was abuzz with this for about three years. Because three years ago at the National Television awards at the ITV box the young man concerned in this story confessed his undying love for Phillip Schofield. Everybody knew that.
"This idea that the whole management is basically going [fingers in ears], ‘We didn’t know anything’. Come on. That I know is not true."
In response, an ITV Spokesperson said: "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 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."
It comes after Piers also said Holly Willoughby was left in an "impossible position" as she returned to This Morning following Phillip's departure.
Piers said: "I like Holly Willoughby, she is a good friend of mine… she is in an impossible position. She had to come back contractually and do what she did.”
"It is not funny for her… it's tough, it’s difficult. You are in an arranged marriage in these situations. I was in one myself and suddenly you are divorced, right?"
He added: "The hardest problem for Holly Willoughby will be who to replace him with. Poor old Susanna Reid, she's been through about 15 blokes now and none of them live up to me… I was trying to say that with a straight face.”
Piers, who has known Phillip for 35 years, says he looks "completely broken" following the news.
" Phillip Schofield is a broken guy, he’s not going to work on television again almost certainly. He’s lost everything in his life," he said.
"I don’t know what more the baying mob on Twitter wants from Phillip Schofield that he hasn’t already lost?”
Piers has publicly sympathised with Phillip following his own abrupt exit from ITV's Good Morning Britain in 2021 after he accused Meghan Markle of lying in her Oprah Winfrey interview.
He described Phil's initial downfall as "brutal to watch" before hitting out at the, "ruthless backstabbing in the world of daytime television."
"One minute Schofield was the undisputed king of morning TV and fast heading to bona fide national treasure status – the next he's a dethroned, shamed, vilified, national disgrace and social media laughing stock," Piers wrote.
The Mirror has contacted Phillip's representatives for further comment.
