ITV bosses have said that both Phillip Schofield and his younger male colleague "repeatedly denied" allegations of a relationship until the former This Morning presenter departed ITV and formally apologised.
ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall faced questions from MPs in London alongside ITV managing director Kevin Lygo and general counsel and company secretary Kyla Mullins about Schofield's exit during Wednesday's Culture, Media and Sport Committee session in parliament.
McCall told MPs that the "imbalance of power, the imbalance of dynamics" made the relationship "deeply inappropriate", and ITV would have taken action, but no evidence of the relationship appeared during ongoing reviews.
She said "we were repeatedly told nothing was happening", and both men denied it "both formally and informally".
McCall pushed back strongly against allegations that Schofield's affair was an open secret at ITV.
"There was only hearsay and rumour and speculation... Nobody on the board would have turned a blind eye to something as serious as this," she said.
It comes after Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague on the show.
Since his resignation, This Morning has been plagued with allegations of "toxicity".
McCall confirmed that Schofield is "receiving counselling" since his exit and she is "very concerned" about his welfare.
She also confirmed that there is "no gagging order or NDA" to stop the younger man from speaking out about the situation.
Talking about those who have speculated that the relationship was known about at ITV, managing director Kevin Lygo said: "A lot of these people, there is not a lot of them, but they worked as presenters on ITV for a very long time, some of them over 10 years, there was never any complaint from them while they were there. If they wanted anything, it was more work, please."
He continued: "It's not surprising that when they go, they're suddenly like, 'Oh it's awful' when for a decade or more they were reaping the rewards and enjoying the job and everyone seemed to get on."
The session covered ITV's initial investigation into rumours regarding Schofield, the ITV-commissioned review into the facts by barrister Jane Mulcahy KC, the working culture on This Morning and other productions, as well as ITV's use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and its whistleblowing policy.
The broadcaster's approach to its duty of care, including support for those who have left the organisation, was also discussed with the panel.
McCall said that ITV does not recognise allegations of a toxic culture at This Morning, saying, "it deeply disappoints me".
She confirmed that the show has had two complaints about bullying or harassment in five years that were "both taken very seriously", including from the show's former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh, who raised concerns about alleged "bullying and discrimination" and afterwards felt like he was "managed out" for whistleblowing.
Speaking about the allegations, McCall said: "It deeply disappoints me, but we do not recognise that at This Morning. We have tangible evidence to tell you where the vast majority of people at daytime at This Morning are extremely engaged and very motivated."
She later added: "When you use those words about our culture, we don't recognise that at our culture. It doesn't mean we don't take it seriously."
In a letter written on Monday to committee chair Caroline Dinenage, McCall set out the terms of reference for the external review led by Jane Mulcahy KC that will "consider the facts of this case and assess our relevant processes and policies" to decipher if it needs to be changed or strengthened.
McCall confirmed in the letter that the barrister will review complaints since 1 January 2016 "by employees or freelancers working on This Morning" and consider whether the steps taken were "appropriate and adequate".
She also anticipated the review to be completed by the end of September this year.
Source: Press Association
