Dr Ranj admits he’s had a tough week after criticising the “toxic” workplace culture at This Morning
After popular presenter Phillip Schofield’s exit from ITV’s This Morning following revelations about his affair with a much younger colleague, the staff have been reassured that the show will go on.
This comes after Dr Ranj, the TV doctor who parted ways from the team last year, claimed that the show had a “toxic culture”. He added that he was ‘managed out’ after taking his concerns to ‘the top’ of ITV.
Mirror reported that the entire cast and crew of the show, embroiled in controversies, came together in a meeting to discuss the future at the studios in west London. Employees, who have been anxious for weeks, were told that they will keep their jobs.
A source said, “It was made abundantly clear. The show – and their jobs – weren’t going anywhere.”
It has also been reported that some of the people working for the show expressed their concerns after Dr Ranj’s “false claims” of a toxic workplace culture.
A source said, “His comments have caused real anguish among a lot of people on the show. It’s a picture they don’t recognise, and they feel Dr Ranj’s sweeping statement casts them as all somehow complicit. It’s really unfair, and has affected a lot of people’s mental health.”
Dr Ranj, a former resident doctor, took to social media last weekend where he revealed that he was “increasingly worried” about what the situation was like behind-the-scenes and how the employees were being treated on This Morning.
He said that he “didn’t know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with This Morning go far beyond him.”
He added, “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.”
Dame Carolyn McCall said on 31 May, that an “external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination” after Dr Ranj made the claims on a public platform.
In a letter Dame Carolyn said: “We were sorry to read his statement.
“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.
“I want to reassure you that as a producer and broadcaster, ITV takes its responsibilities around duty of care and speaking up seriously and has robust and well-established processes in place which allow anyone who works with us to raise concerns they may have anonymously.
“The confidential reporting number and other ways of raising concerns are promoted via a number of channels, which includes ITV’s internal staff website, across ITV buildings and how to speak up is part of ITV’s code of ethics & conduct annual mandatory training for all staff.”
On Wednesday, the TV doctor made an appearance on the BBC’s Morning Live. The show was dedicated to mental health for Mental Health Awareness month.
Host Gethin Jones checked in on Dr Ranj and addressed that the last week must have been tough.
Gethin said, “Ranj as your friends and colleagues we know you’re having a particularly tough week, this week.”
Dr Ranj replied, “Yes”.
“We’re not going to go into the specifics but it has absolutely impacted your mental health that’s absolutely fair to say”, Gethin added.
Ahead of the show, Dr Ranj wrote on Twitter: “It’s a mental health special on @BBCMorningLive today!
“The entire show is dedicated to exploring it & helping as many people as we can.
“I’ll be on with @DrPunamKrishan talking about our own experiences & giving our advice on how we can ALL look after ourselves.”
