Dr. Ranj Singh issues formal statement

Dr. Ranj Singh as issued a statement following the publication of a photo featuring himself alongside former This Morning host Phillip Schofield‘s young lover resurfaced this week. 

Singh worked on the show as a resident medical expert alongside Schofield and his co-host Holly Willoughby for six years before stepping down in 2022. 

Veteran TV presenter Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV on Friday and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young male colleague on This Morning.

Addressing his departure over the weekend Singh said he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” two years ago when he worked there and afterwards felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.

He has since moved to defend himself after a selfie taken by Singh with the young runner at the heart of Schofield’s departure emerged online.  

Speaking out: Dr. Ranj Singh as issued a statement following the publication of a photo featuring himself alongside Phillip Schofield and the beleaguered former This Morning host’s young lover

Taking to Twitter, he wrote: ‘It’s sad that there are people out there trying to cause damage and insinuate things from a harmless picture. 

‘So here are some facts: [Phil’s ex] and I worked together at This Morning.  He was 21 when we took this picture at the studio. And it was obviously taken as a joke.’ 

Singh’s post comes just days after he became the latest former colleague to condemn the show. 

In a lengthy social media post, he wrote: ‘I was on the show for 10 years and I genuinely loved and valued working there. However, over time, I grew increasingly worried about how things were 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 TM (This Morning) go far beyond him.

‘It takes more than one person to create a culture.’ 

Singh said he raised his concerns with senior executives at ITV as he 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 continued. ‘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.

Familiar face: Singh worked on the show as a resident medical expert alongside Schofield and his co-host Holly Willoughby for six years before stepping down in 2022 

The television medic confirmed that he had taken concerns about the behaviour of editors and senior producers to ITV and had then seen his screentime drop

‘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.’ 

The doctor said he was assured that things would be addressed and changes made but he has not worked on the show since – adding it “still hurts” two years on from lodging complaints.

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.”

According to The Mail on Sunday, Schofield first met the younger ITV colleague whom he later had an affair with when he was aged 15.