Christine Flack, the mother of the late Love Island host Caroline Flack weighed in on the Phillip Schofield controversy with a new interview with BBC Newsnight.
Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on Friday night’s show, Christine shared her own insight into the situation as she suggested ITV hadn't done enough to protect Phillip or the young man who he had undertaken the affair with.
"They haven’t learnt anything," Christine told Victoria. "They treat [presenters] like commodities and I know it’s a lovely job and they earn money, but also the television stations earn money from them.
"But they’re not commodities, they’re people, and they’re employed. And if my employer didn’t take care of me, there’d be all hell to pay – and there’s not, they’re just sidelined and not protected."
She also urged ITV to do more to protect both Phillip and the young employee he had an affair with, as she told Newsnight they "should have been looked after”.
“I hate the thought that Phillip and this young man are going through such an awful time,” she said.
“It’s bad enough when it’s in private, but when it’s in every single paper and first thing on the news, it’s just ridiculous. Wait to see what happens. Let’s hope for the best.
“I send my regards to Phillip and the young lad, and hope they get over this. Don’t do anything silly.”
In response to the criticism, ITV released a statement, which read: “The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust.
“Phillip made assurances to us and his agency which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down.
“As a producer and broadcaster, ITV takes its responsibilities around duty of care seriously and has robust and well-established processes in place to support the mental and physical health of employees and all those we work with.”
OK! has also reached out to ITV for further comment.
The grieving mother, 72, sadly lost her daughter in 2020, after Caroline took her own life aged just 40 years old.
Caroline had been facing media scrutiny following an arrest on suspicion of assaulting her boyfriend. She subsequently stepped back from the then-upcoming winter series of Love Island.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had recommended the former Love Island presenter receive a caution after the incident with her boyfriend, Lewis Burton at their London home.
However the police appealed this decision and instead sought to charge her with assault by beating.
It was this decision to prosecute that prompted Caroline to take her own life, ruled a coroner.
Phillip, who himself was a friend of Caroline, was deeply shaken by the news of the star’s death – something which was made all the more poignant this week when he related his own experiences after news of his affair broke to the situation experienced by Caroline.
During an interview with the BBC’s media editor Amol Rajan on Friday, Phillip said he understood how Caroline had felt, saying: “If my daughters hadn’t been there then I wouldn’t be here.”
Christine agreed, saying: “He knew Caroline and I must say, when she died he was very upset.
“And I think he’s now realising even more what she went through. Being in the media he knew what she was going through.”
“But until it happens to you, you feel sad but you don’t understand.
“He’s trying to put things straight. But I don’t think it will end there.
“I hope he’s done the right thing. I hope he feels better. I hope people now will let it settle. He’s lost his job, he’s lost his world. I think that’s enough. I think that’s enough for anybody.”
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
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