[AaronTV]

A very difficult situation for ITV and others at This Morning - if rumours of something potentially untoward has been reported to you as an employer, but the two people allegedly involved flatly deny it and no evidence to the contrary appears, there isn’t a huge amount you can actually do. Sacking people based on rumour alone is a very dangerous path to start wondering down.

The suggestions that Holly should now have to quit because of Schofield’s actions or that the show is going to be axed are ridiculous. It would be in ITV and Holly’s interest to clarify the timeline, however, whether that’s directly or indirectly.

Evidently the version of the situation that Holly’s camp wants us to know is that she discovered the news and threatened to leave over it if Schofield did not, having previously been told by Schofield personally that the rumours were incorrect.

What we don’t know is when Holly and ITV learnt of what we learnt yesterday - was Schofield’s departure ultimately because of the fall out speculation as was claimed at the time, or because it was clear to everyone involved that the affair story was in fact true and going to come out sooner rather than later?