Martin Frizell ‘deeply inappropriate and disrespectful’ says MP

This Morning editor Martin Frizell has been branded ‘disrespectful’ after ‘deeply inappropriate’ comments were made concerning the recent revelations by former ITV Daytime staff that his programme is allegedly a ‘toxic’ environment.

When a Sky News reporter asked if the programme he oversees was toxic he responded, “I tell you what’s toxic… is aubergine. Do you like aubergine? Do you? But do you like aubergine?” He went on to say, ignoring the questions, “Cos I don’t like aubergine. It’s just a personal thing. It’s a really big day today though because John Torode is back with Spicy Barbecue Prawns.”

He then went on to note some of the content coming up on Monday’s programme “Josie, Adam Lambert, Jo Joyner, and Holly Willoughby. See you at 10!!” The flippant response hasn’t gone down well with some viewers, who observed on social media, ‘in 37 seconds the problem with This Morning summed up’ Another noted ‘Martin showing how the programme has taken viewers for fools.’ while another posted, ‘The arrogance is astounding – too much power there.’

Another said ‘I think Martin Frizell’s attitude has shown what they think of the people who help keep them employed by watching… zero.‘ and ‘The response to queue gate etc, you can see who was the brains behind that, putting two fingers up to viewers. The man is appalling.’

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And ATV Today’s TV Critic Vivian Summers stated, ‘I think those comments to Sky News by This Morning boss Martin Frizell says everything you need to know about the apparent toxic issues on the show. Disrespectful and again mocking just like all of This Morning’s previous issues such as the queue jumping and the response to that.’

But it was MP John Nicolson who is on the select committee for ‘Culture, Media and Sport’, that is due to question ITV’s top bosses next week over the whole affair, who was most vocal of his displeasure of the comments by Frizell.

“This is a deeply inappropriate and disrespectful way to respond to questions about safeguarding vulnerable staff and bullying in the workplace at ITV.“ – John Nicolson, MP

Last week Frizell told Sky News that “scores are being settled” which led to more questions than answers. ITV have said in a statement it doesn’t believe the programme is problematic but has sought an external investigation to establish the facts. The Daily Mail report Frizell was previously investigated internally by ITV in 2019 after a female staff member made a complaint, but ‘no evidence’ was found of inapt behaviour at the programme.