ITV’s Lygo slams Eamonn Holmes over his criticism of the broadcaster

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s director of television, has suggested that Eamonn Holmes’ criticism of the network is down to him not being on the payroll anymore.

ITV bosses are today (Wednesday 14th June) facing questions from MPs on the This Morning row at a session of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee.

Lygo said that such former presenters often feel they have a ‘divine right’ to stay on the network and in turn, hit out when things go wrong for others still at the network.

“It’s not surprising, is it, that when they go, they’re like, ‘Hate ITV, it’s awful.’ When the decade they were there, they were reaping the rewards and enjoying the job and everybody seemed to get on,” he noted

On Saturday 20th May, Phillip Schofield announced that he had “stepped down” from This Morning amid reports of a rift with co-host Holly Willoughby. In the week that followed, he revealed his “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young runner on the show, resigning in full from ITV.

Holmes has accused ITV bosses of covering up the controversial affair, and has suggested all is not rosy behind the scenes at This Morning.