VANESSA Feltz has accusing the TV stars hitting out at ‘This Morning’ of harbouring “grudging malice” they are no longer on the show.
The 61-year-old who appears on Fridays with Alison and Dermot made the remark after household names including axed ‘This Morning’ host Eamonn Holmes, 63, and its ex-resident medic Dr Ranj Singh, 43, aimed a barrage of criticism at Phillip Schofield, 61, and the show’s set-up behind the scenes in the wake of Phillip’s shock exit from the series at the end of last month after news broke of his affair with a much younger male colleague.
Vanessa said on her TalkTV show: “It has been suggested that quite a lot of the people who are very vocally critical of This Morning.
“And, actually, it’s a handful of people, there are some celebrities, a couple of journalists, and what’s been suggested is quite a lot of them were once on the programme and aren’t on it anymore.
“And that is the reason for this aggrieved, grudging malice that is coming out but if you ask people who are still on the programme and who are on it regularly, who enjoy being on it, they won’t know what they’re talking about.”
Phillip stepped down amid rumours of a feud between him and co-host Holly Willoughby, 42, before he admitted he had lied about having an affair with a younger TV runner who worked on ‘This Morning’ – now Alison Hammond is tipped to replace the former presenter full-time.
Vanessa’s comments come after Eamonn claimed there was a “cover-up” at ‘This Morning’ and said: “Those in authority had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge a bullet with this.
“With Schofield talking about those who speak out against him – namely me, Amanda Holden, Dr Ranj as well. You simply sit there and think, ‘No mate, you’ve had it all your way for too long.’”
Dr Ranj has said ‘This Morning’ has a “toxic culture”, and tweeted: “I was on the show for 10 years and I genuinely loved and valued working there. “However, over time I grew increasingly worried about things behind the scenes and how people, including myself, were being treated.
“I didn’t know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with ‘This Morning’ go far beyond him. It takes more than one person to create a culture.”
An ITV spokesperson said the broadcaster is “fully committed to providing every opportunity for anyone who works with us to raise any concern or comments they may have”.
Phillip has denied there was a “toxic” atmosphere on ‘This Morning’, and when Holly returned to the show after a break on Monday she admitted she was “shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s been going on and full of questions”.
She added to her 38-year-old co-host Josie Gibson: “You, me and all of us at ‘This Morning’ gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved.”
Holly also said she hoped there was going to be a “new chapter” for the show so it could “get back to a place of warmth and magic”.
This Morning with Alison and Dermot airs Fridays at 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
