This Morning will return to TV screens today, in the wake of the Phillip Schofield controversy.
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will present the ITV daytime show from 10am – the first time it has aired since ex-presenter Mr Schofield’s admitted an affair with a younger male colleague.
Last Saturday, Schofield announced he would be leaving This Morning after 20 years at the helm following reports his relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby had become strained.
Less than a week later, on Friday, Schofield released a statement admitting an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a “much younger man” and announced he was stepping down from ITV completely.
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‘Toxic culture’ at ITV show
He also admitted he lied about the affair to ITV bosses, his agents and the media, resulting in the channel saying it was “deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit” and his management company YMU Group dropping him.
ITV confirmed on Saturday they had investigated “rumours of a relationship” in 2020 but the pair repeatedly denied the affair.
Ms Willoughby said the admission was “very hurtful“.
On Sunday, Dr Ranj claimed he was managed out after taking his concerns about the “toxic culture” at This Morning to Emma Gormley, the head of ITV Daytime.
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“I was on the show for 10 years and I genuinely loved and valued working there,” he said in a post on Twitter
“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.”
Dr Ranj said he “did what I thought was right” and made a complaint about This Morning editor Martin Frizzell’s behaviour, adding “especially given that my job is to look after people’s wellbeing and I had been heavily involved in diversity, anti-bullying and mental health projects across the channel”.
“I then found myself being used less and less,” he said.
“I even took my concerns directly to the top of ITV: the culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values, and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out.
“But as history and experience have taught us, things like bullying and discrimination are very hard to prove, particularly in hindsight and when the ‘people in power’ control the narrative. As we’ve seen, no review or investigation is foolproof.
“I haven’t worked on the show since… and I’m not the only one who has spoken up or experienced similar,” he added.
“That was two years ago and, frankly, it still hurts. The whole process was pretty heart-breaking and even affected my mental health. But I’m happy to say I’ve found my feet again, know my worth and have found my tribe.
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He continued: “There are some good people in TV, but we need to be brave and stand up to those who aren’t. Even if it’s scary as hell, we have to do the right thing otherwise nothing will change. I sincerely hope something good comes from all this.”
He also added in the post’s caption that “there is so much more” he could say.
ITV’s director of television Kevin Lygo told Sky News on Sunday that “no mistakes” were made in the 2020 investigation while newspapers reported that the channel was considering axing the programme.
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‘No mistakes’ were made says ITV boss
An ITV spokesperson said: “We are sorry to read Dr Ranj’s post today.
“At ITV we are fully committed to providing every opportunity for anyone who works with us to raise any concern or comments they may have.
“Following a complaint made by Dr Ranj, we appointed an external and independent advisor to carry out a review. This external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.”
Several television personalities including Denise van Outen, Laura Whitmore, Carol Vorderman and former Loose Women panellist Saira Khan left messages of support on his Instagram post with the same statement.
An ITV spokesperson earlier told Sky News they carried out an external review following a complaint made by Dr Ranj, and it “found no evidence to support the complaint of bullying”.
Dr Ranj starting working on This Morning in 2016 and now appears on BBC’s Morning Live.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is set to be the next James Bond, according to reports.
Famous for roles in films such as Kick-Ass and Avengers: Age Of Ultron, the 33-year-old actor is apparently yet to officially accept the iconic part, but a source told The Sun: “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it.”
The source added: “The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back.”
Eon Productions, which produces the Bond films, is also said to be preparing to shoot a new 007 movie, with a script now being worked on.
The Sun’s source added: “As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”
Taylor-Johnson is “an incredibly talented actor,” the source is also quoted as saying. They called him the “perfect person to play Bond and will pick up well from where Daniel Craig left off”.
Taylor-Johnson was asked by Numero magazine last week about rumours linking him with the role. In response, he said: “I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.”
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After Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo following the release of No Time To Die, speculation has mounted about who will become the seventh actor to play the spy in the official films.
Taylor-Johnson would follow Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Craig in taking on the part, if his selection is confirmed. Connery starred in Dr No, the first official film, in 1962.
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Idris Elba was long tipped to take up the role, but the 51-year-old said in September that “disgusting” comments about his race put him off.
He told the SmartLess podcast: “Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting because it became about race.
“It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.”
“Ms Gutierrez-Reed is requesting this court vacate her conviction and order new trial,” lawyers Jason Bowles and Monnica Barreras said, in an emergency motion.
“She is further requesting this court to release her pending further proceedings whether it be in this court or on appeal or writ.”
The court documents appear to have been filed on the same day that Alec Baldwin‘s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor over the shooting.
In it, the actor’s lawyers accused prosecutors of “violating nearly every rule in the book” in acquiring the indictment.
Among the claims, it is alleged state prosecutors gave the grand jury instruction on involuntary manslaughter that “unfairly stacked the deck against Baldwin”, who was re-charged with involuntary manslaughter in January and will go on trial in July.
The Hollywood actor faces two counts of manslaughter, one for negligent use of a firearm and another for failure to exercise due caution – and faces a maximum of 18 months in prison if found guilty.
The 30 Rock actor has denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death, saying the gun went off without him pulling the trigger.
Hutchins died when a Colt. 45 revolver Baldwin was rehearsing with fired a live round that also wounded director Joel Souza during filming of the Western movie Rust.
Gutierrez-Reed will be sentenced on 15 April for the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a $5,000 (£3,900) fine.
Liz Hurley’s son has said there is nothing “controversial” about the bikini shots he takes for his mother’s beachwear line, insisting it is all just part of being in showbusiness.
Speaking alongside his mother in an interview with Access Hollywood, 21-year-old model Damian Hurley said: “People find this really controversial. Showbusiness has been a fundamental part of my entire life.
“So, to us, it’s not a thing, it’s just part of business. She takes my photos, I take hers.”
On the combined family effort involved in her fashion brand, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, the 58-year-old model and actress said: “Who likes being photographed in bikinis? No one, even when you’re 22 and fabulous.
“But it’s relaxing knowing someone’s behind the camera who looks out for me, which was the same on this movie in a way”.
Damian, who is Hurley’s son with American businessman Steve Bing, is now making his film directing debut next year with crime drama Strictly Confidential.
Hurley went on: “The things that his script needed me to do weren’t necessarily things I’d always done in movies many times before.
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“But having him there meant that I felt safe and looked-after, and I knew, in the production and in the post, he’d look after me.
“So actually, it’s kind of liberating to work with your family, I may do it again.”
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The crime drama, set in the Caribbean, is about a young woman trying to solve the mystery of her best friend’s apparent suicide.
‘Some secrets are meant to stay buried…’
His mother, best known for her acting roles in Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery and Bedazzled, stars in the film and shares romantic scenes with actress Pear Chiravara.
Also starring Georgia Lock, Freddie Thorp and Lauren McQueen, the beach-themed mystery has the tagline: “Some secrets are meant to stay buried…”
Damian has said he was approached to make Strictly Confidential after an executive at Lionsgate saw his short film, The Boy On The Beach, which also starred his mother.
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He said he had been making films since he was a child and was “terrified” before making his first feature, about a woman who is obsessed with her best friend’s death.
However, he said he felt in his “comfort zone” because they “didn’t have time” during the short shoot to think about many things.
“Thank God I had you (my mother) to do it with. I don’t think I would have survived that one,” he added.
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In an Instagram post to celebrate the final day of filming in December 2022, Damian said he wanted to “worship” his mother, who he said promised him while he was making his first short film in 2010 that she would appear in his first feature film
“True to her word, the minute this film was green-lit, Mama dropped everything and raced out to the beautiful Caribbean to help,” he said.
“Working together was a dream.”
He said making the movie had been the “most incredible experience, both professionally and personally” during which he had “made lifelong friends and learned many valuable lessons”.
Strictly Confidential will be released in select theatres on 4 April and on streaming sites including Prime Video and Apple TV+.