The qualified medic and TV personality spent a decade as the resident doctor on This Morning, but has subsequently left and now works on BBC’s Morning Live.
He previously spoke out after reports of the alleged ‘fallout’ between Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby originally hit headlines over a week ago, saying it had caused him a bit of a ‘wobble’ about being in the media.
However, since then Phillip, 61, has resigned from the show and subsequently all his ITV projects in their entirety after revealing on Friday that he had an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a young male show runner on This Morning while still with his wife Stephanie Lowe.
They initially met when the unnamed production assistant was 15 after Phillip gave a talk at his school, with their relationship beginning after he turned 18 and was working in a role on This Morning, while Phillip was in his mid-50s.
Dr Ranj, 43, took to Instagram on Sunday to ‘clarify things’ after revealing he had been approached to share his experience of working on This Morning, revealing that he felt ‘in light of recent events’ like he might ‘finally be believed’.
‘I’ve thought long and hard about posting this. If I’m honest, I really wish I didn’t have to. But I’ve got to clarify some things that have been reported about me, and in light of recent events, I finally feel like I might be believed…,’ he began his lengthy post.
‘To the journalists who have offered me money this weekend to share my experience of working at This Morning, thank you but it would go against my principles to “sell my story” – especially about something like this.
‘However, given that ITV have commented on my departure, I feel it’s only fair for me to do so too to avoid any further conjecture.’
The former Strictly Come Dancing star went to to say that he ‘genuinely loved and valued working’ at This Morning over the 10 years that he did so.
‘However over time I grew increasingly worried about how things were behind-the-scenes and how people, including myself, were being treated,’ he added.
‘I didn’t know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with TM go far beyond him. It takes more than one person to create a culture.’
The doctor and children’s author then revealed he had ‘taken his concerns directly to the top of ITV’ before claiming that he ‘hadn’t worked on the show since’.
He continued: ‘I did what I thought was right and, as ITV confirmed last night, I raised my concerns about Martin Frizell’s behaviour (and the environment at TM) with Emma Gormley – 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,’ Dr Ranj added, saying that he told top bosses of the ‘toxic culture’ at This Morning before admitting he 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 of investigation is foolproof.
‘Still, I was assured that certain things were going to be addressed and changes made.’
He then shared: ‘I haven’t worked on the show since… and I am not the only one who has spoken up or experienced similar.’
The doctor revealed that the situation ‘still hurts’, describing the whole process as ‘pretty heartbreaking’ and saying it even affected his mental health.
‘But I’m happy to say I’ve found my feet again, know my worth and have found my tribe,’ he reassured followers.
‘So my general message to everyone is: look around you. Is this the place you want to be? Do you feel valued? Are you thriving or just surviving? Do you need to speak up?
‘These are lessons I’ve learned from my time in this industry. I say it all with respect, kindness and a desire to make things better.
‘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 signed off.
In his post’s caption, Dr Ranj wrote that there was ‘so much more I could say’, but was hoping ‘for now’ that his concerns ‘will finally be taken seriously’.
In response, an ITV spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘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.’
He was cheered on in the comments of his post by pals including actress and campaigner Gemma Oaten and former Strictly pro Robin Windsor.
‘Massive respect to you,’ added Denise Van Outen. ‘I do love a bit of ‘morning live’ All my dear showbiz mates are on it. You, Gethin & Kimberly ❤️’
Phillip Schofield statement in full
‘I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
‘The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning. I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
‘Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.
‘When I chose to come out I did so entirely for my own wellbeing. Nobody “forced” me out. Neither I nor anyone else, to my knowledge, has ever issued an injunction, super or otherwise, about my relationship with this colleague, he was never moved on or sacked by or because of me. In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven’t been truthful about the relationship.
‘But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now.
‘I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.
‘I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.
‘I will reflect on my very bad judgment in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it. To protect his privacy, I am not naming this individual and my deepest wish is that both he and his family can now move on with their lives free from further intrusion, and that this statement will enable them to do so.
‘I ask the media now to respect their privacy. They have done nothing wrong, and I ask that their privacy should be respected.’
The Mail On Sunday claimed that Phillip was forced to address the allegations and confess to his affair after his lover told lawyers about their supposed relationship.
On Friday Phillip explained: ‘I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
‘Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.
‘That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for This Morning for comment on behalf of the show and editor-producer Martin Frizell.
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MORE : ITV confirms This Morning hosts for first show since Phillip Schofield’s affair confession and resignation
MORE : This Morning ‘could be axed’ and ‘senior ITV heads could roll’ after Phillip Schofield’s affair confession
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