teens to low 20s. down the high teens to low 205. down the spine of high teens to low 20s. down the spine of england, that is the highest temperatures, northern england and the midlands and central and southern england could hit 23. this is the high pressure in the second half of the weekend, more dry weather and sunshine in scotland. perhaps a bit more cloud for east anglia and south—east england but whether stuff no problems really, still spells of sunshine through. the highest temperatures in the south—west, 23, a bit cooler in scotland, northern ireland and northern england but still fine in the may sun. bank holiday monday, a bit more windy in east anglia and south—east england, that will knock a few degrees off the temperatures, particularly on eastern coasts but at the same time it getting warmer for western areas of scotland. all in all, the long bank holiday weekend is looking fine a quick preview later into the new week and look at this, sunshine across the board, set to get warm with temperatures climbing into the mid

20s next week. temperatures climbing into the mid 205 next week.— temperatures climbing into the mid 20s next week.— 20s next week. thank you, chris. that is the _ 20s next week. thank you, chris. that is the bbc _ 20s next week. thank you, chris. that is the bbc news _ 20s next week. thank you, chris. that is the bbc news at - 20s next week. thank you, chris. that is the bbc news at ten - 20s next week. thank you, chris. that is the bbc news at ten with | that is the bbc news at ten with more analysis on the main stories on newsnight and that is with victoria derbyshire. just starting now on bbc two and the news continues here on bbc one is now its time to join two and the news continues here on bbc one is now its time tojoin our colleagues across the nations and regions for the news where you are but from the ten o'clock team it is good night.

i have been receiving messages saying i have blood on my hands, i have been pretty much blamed completely for the horrendous murder of sarah everard. an ex—met police constable found guilty of gross misconduct over her shoddy, dishonest investigation into wayne couzens tells newsnight she's been thrown under the bus

by the �*higher ups' in the force... in an exclusive interview, samantha lee denies she tried to dishonestly cover up her failures while investigating wayne couzens over indecent exposure. did you like? no, i never lied, i never saw— did you like? no, i never lied, i never saw any _ did you like? no, i never lied, i never saw any cctv. _ did you like? no, i never lied, i never saw any cctv. if- did you like? no, i never lied, i never saw any cctv. if you - did you like? no, i never lied, i never saw any cctv. if you did l did you like? no, i never lied, i. never saw any cctv. if you did lie, this is an opportunity _ never saw any cctv. if you did lie, this is an opportunity to _ this is an opportunity to acknowledge that. 100%, i did not live. you have the opportunity to live. you have the opportunity to live because of failures in this investigation. hat live because of failures in this investigation.— also tonight... the hospitals being attacked by both the sudanese army and the militia they're fighting.

and itv say they feel �*badly let down' by philip schofield — who quits television after saying he lied about what he describes as a relationship with a much younger employee at the company. we'll ask where this leaves the reputation of the broadcaster. the kidnap, rape and murder of sarah everard by a serving metropolitan officer in 2021 led to national anger and outrage and calls for more action to tackle violence against women. wayne couzens was sentenced to a whole—life term for the murder of the marketing executive. this week a 29—year—old former met police constable was found guilty of gross misconduct by the police watchdog for a lack of "honesty and integrity" connected

to her account of her investigation into two incidents of indecent exposure by couzens. couzens killed sarah everard days after exposing himself to staff at a mcdonald's in swanley in kent. here's the cctv footage showing his car at the drive—through. in her disciplinary hearing, samantha lee said she hadn't ever been shown that footage — a lie, the panel found, to cover up her failures. ms lee is now banned from serving in the police again. in an interview with this programme, she tells us she's been �*thrown under a bus' by the met. she says the way she's been treated is unfair, and has received �*thousands' of hate messages on social media saying she has �*blood on her hands'. to date she's the only met officer to be disciplined for the multiple failures to stop couzens before

he went on to murder sarah everard. i've been talking to her, and asked first about the panel's conclusion that she had been dishonest. did you lie? no, i never lied or so any ccw. — did you lie? no, i never lied or so any cm, the _ did you lie? no, i never lied or so any cctv, the discussion - did you lie? no, i never lied or so any cctv, the discussion i - did you lie? no, i never lied or so any cctv, the discussion i had - did you lie? no, i never lied or so | any cctv, the discussion i had was have you any footage of the offender or the offence? that meant, any pictures of the actual suspect himself, wayne couzens, or anything that shows what he was doing and the answer was no. but this is when he went on to explain that we did have a picture of him which would have been taken when he made his order and following the payment the picture from the order gets deleted. if you did lie, this is an opportunity to acknowledge that. 100%, i did not lie, i believe he showed it to someone, that is how we have got the footage. the showed it to someone, that is how we have got the footage.— have got the footage. the panel chairman said _ have got the footage. the panel chairman said we _ have got the footage. the panel chairman said we find _ have got the footage. the panel chairman said we find the -

have got the footage. the panel - chairman said we find the mcdonald's manager to be a credible witness and we find it inconceivable he would not have shown you the cctv evidence and the chairman of the panel said he believed you lied because of the stress on you, because of panic and because of the pressure bearing down on you because we know what wayne couzens went on to do later that day. and he said, we have some understanding of the pressure on you, a relatively straightforward indecent exposure allegation became an issue of immense pleasure. you were under pressure? i an issue of immense pleasure. you were under pressure?— were under pressure? i was under ressure were under pressure? i was under pressure when — were under pressure? i was under pressure when they _ were under pressure? i was under pressure when they called - were under pressure? i was under pressure when they called me - were under pressure? i was under pressure when they called me to i were under pressure? i was under. pressure when they called me to say we need a meeting because have you seen what is in the news? there was no cctv from the second i got back from the mcdonald's, before any of this happened, because i was not showing any cctv. you this happened, because i was not showing any cctv.— showing any cctv. you had the motivation _ showing any cctv. you had the motivation to _ showing any cctv. you had the motivation to lie _ showing any cctv. you had the motivation to lie because - showing any cctv. you had the motivation to lie because of. motivation to lie because of failures in this investigation. perhaps to cover up that you did not

do this thoroughly enough or swiftly enough? hat do this thoroughly enough or swiftly enou~h? . . do this thoroughly enough or swiftly enout h? ., ., ., do this thoroughly enough or swiftly enou~h? ., ., ., ., enough? not at all, the one thing i'm not enough? not at all, the one thing i'm not going _ enough? not at all, the one thing i'm not going to _ enough? not at all, the one thing i'm not going to say _ enough? not at all, the one thing i'm not going to say that - enough? not at all, the one thing i'm not going to say that i - enough? not at all, the one thing i'm not going to say that i did - enough? not at all, the one thingi i'm not going to say that i did was i'm not going to say that i did was i will not say i watched cctv that i did not watch. i5 i will not say i watched cctv that i did not watch.— i will not say i watched cctv that i did not watch. is there anything you recret did not watch. is there anything you regret about — did not watch. is there anything you regret about the _ did not watch. is there anything you regret about the way _ did not watch. is there anything you regret about the way you _ did not watch. is there anything you regret about the way you handle - did not watch. is there anything you | regret about the way you handle this case? ., , regret about the way you handle this case? . , , case? there are definitely things i recret case? there are definitely things i regret about _ case? there are definitely things i regret about the _ case? there are definitely things i regret about the way _ case? there are definitely things i regret about the way i _ case? there are definitely things i regret about the way i handled - case? there are definitely things i regret about the way i handled it, | regret about the way i handled it, as you would have heard from the evidence provided from one of the witnesses, i am generally a good officer i did a good job. i was a good officer, past tense. but obviously, from that case, i should probably have asked more questions around the cctv and done a more thorough investigation and it should have exhibited what i was provided with. and i hold my hands up to that completely. and i do not dispute any of that. but again, nothing i could have done differently, and i have got over it in my head for 27 months, if i had done this or that, but the awful things that happened that day been prevented? and they

just would not have been because it was no system in place for us to know that he was a police officer. but we do not know that for sure. we do not know that if you had not done a much more diligent investigation, that it might have stopped wayne couzens kidnapping sarah everard that night? it couzens kidnapping sarah everard that niuht? , ., ., that night? it definitely would not have done. _ that night? it definitely would not have done, all— that night? it definitely would not have done, all we _ that night? it definitely would not have done, all we had _ that night? it definitely would not have done, all we had was - that night? it definitely would not have done, all we had was a - that night? it definitely would not| have done, all we had was a name that night? it definitely would not - have done, all we had was a name and i checks in his name with a rough date of birth, basically to see if anything came up on the system and nothing came upon those checks. finding out who he was and any details, it would have been impossible in that amount of time. when you found out that the indecent exposure incident that you were supposed to have been investigating involved wayne couzens, and he was a man who killed sarah everard, how did you react? i man who killed sarah everard, how did you react?— did you react? i was shocked and i sat there and _ did you react? i was shocked and i sat there and i _ did you react? i was shocked and i sat there and i felt _ did you react? i was shocked and i sat there and i felt horrendous. i sat there and i felt horrendous. about the whole situation. what

happened was probably one of the most awful things that ever has happened in history because he used his position as a police officer, as a person in a trusted organisation, to commit the horrendous crimes that he did. so to be honest, it was traumatising for myself, especially because i was linked to the case but everyone in the organisation who heard what he had done, it was a massive shock.— heard what he had done, it was a massive shock. , a, massive shock. there might be some heafina massive shock. there might be some hearing you — massive shock. there might be some hearing you describe _ massive shock. there might be some hearing you describe this _ massive shock. there might be some hearing you describe this now - massive shock. there might be some hearing you describe this now and - hearing you describe this now and you have used the word traumatising... but are sarah everard's parents and family going through? i everard's parents and family going throu~h? ., ., , , , through? i would not wish but they are auoin through? i would not wish but they are going through _ through? i would not wish but they are going through on _ through? i would not wish but they are going through on anybody - through? i would not wish but they are going through on anybody and| through? i would not wish but theyj are going through on anybody and i cannot think of anything worse than having a child taken from me in such a horrific way, especially by someone who everyone is meant to have trust in, i cannot imagine how they feel about it.— have trust in, i cannot imagine how they feel about it. were you trained in car in:

they feel about it. were you trained in carrying out _ they feel about it. were you trained in carrying out this _ they feel about it. were you trained in carrying out this kind _ they feel about it. were you trained in carrying out this kind of - in carrying out this kind of investigation? trained in the significance of these indecent exposure cases and how they might escalate? arnie exposure cases and how they might escalate? ~ ., ., ., ., ., escalate? we had no training at all in indecent — escalate? we had no training at all in indecent exposure, _ escalate? we had no training at all in indecent exposure, there - escalate? we had no training at all in indecent exposure, there was i escalate? we had no training at all| in indecent exposure, there was no specific training around that and sexual offences were dealt with as a general topic rather than any individual offences. we have always been taught that indecent exposure was one of the lower levels of the sexual offences.— was one of the lower levels of the sexual offences. how often have you reflected about _ sexual offences. how often have you reflected about whether, _ sexual offences. how often have you reflected about whether, if - sexual offences. how often have you reflected about whether, if you - sexual offences. how often have you reflected about whether, if you had l reflected about whether, if you had a more diligent, swifter approach, you could have potentially stopped wayne couzens from taking the life of sarah everard? you wayne couzens from taking the life of sarah everard?— wayne couzens from taking the life of sarah everard? you costly thing, is there something _ of sarah everard? you costly thing, is there something that _ of sarah everard? you costly thing, is there something that i _ of sarah everard? you costly thing, is there something that i could - of sarah everard? you costly thing, is there something that i could do? but at that point there was nothing, there were opportunities missed but not by myself, more by the organisation.— not by myself, more by the organisation. not by myself, more by the oruanisation. ., ., ., organisation. you are referring to 2015, kent _ organisation. you are referring to 2015, kent police _ organisation. you are referring to 2015, kent police got _ organisation. you are referring to 2015, kent police got a _ organisation. you are referring to 2015, kent police got a report - organisation. you are referring to 2015, kent police got a report of| 2015, kent police got a report of indecent exposure and it was couzens and they had his name and address

and they had his name and address and number plate and the make and colour of his car, an image of him driving taken by a roadside camera. that was in 2015. it is driving taken by a roadside camera. that was in 2015.— that was in 2015. it is incredibly unfair... because _ that was in 2015. it is incredibly unfair... because as _ that was in 2015. it is incredibly unfair... because as a - that was in 2015. it is incredibly unfair... because as a lone - that was in 2015. it is incredibly i unfair... because as a lone female pc who had _ unfair... because as a lone female pc who had the _ unfair... because as a lone female pc who had the opportunity - unfair... because as a lone female pc who had the opportunity to - unfair... because as a lone female. pc who had the opportunity to catch couzens for only 50 minutes prior to what he had done that evening, this happened back in 2015 and there has been so much time with that case could have prevented what has happened because it would have been looked into, they had a picture of him. they had more evidence to actually bring him in and do something about the offence but instead it was closed and not taken further. i definitely feel like it is more a case of, i have been sort of, i won't use the word scapegoat but i have been treated completely unfairly as a woman pc, someone who is able to be thrown under the bus,

right, we will make you deal with it, we have got rid of this officer, she has done a terrible job and we can brush this under the table. rather than making genuine changes that i believe would have prevented this. who is making a scapegoat? the metropolitan police as an organisation, it is a case of, oh my god, this awful thing has happened, how do we react to this? if we can get rid of one pc that is fine, we can replace that pc and clear our names, that we have not done anything wrong. as an organisation, they would have been able to put preventative measures in place way before this happened. you preventative measures in place way before this happened.— before this happened. you are the onl met before this happened. you are the only met office — before this happened. you are the only met office are _ before this happened. you are the only met office are to _ before this happened. you are the only met office are to be - only met office are to be disciplined in any way for the multiple failures to stop couzens before he murdered sarah everard. what do you feel about that? it is wholly unfair _ what do you feel about that? it is wholly unfair it _ what do you feel about that? it 3 wholly unfair it has been a case of let's go in at the bottom rather than going higher at the top. what

than going higher at the top. what has the public _ than going higher at the top. what has the public reaction _ than going higher at the top. what has the public reaction bring to you being found guilty of gross misconduct? i being found guilty of gross misconduct?— being found guilty of gross misconduct? . , . misconduct? i have been receiving messaues misconduct? i have been receiving messages saying _ misconduct? i have been receiving messages saying i _ misconduct? i have been receiving messages saying i have _ misconduct? i have been receiving messages saying i have blood - misconduct? i have been receiving messages saying i have blood on | misconduct? i have been receiving l messages saying i have blood on my hands, i have pretty much been blamed completely for the horrendous murder of sarah everard. and some of the messages are quite horrendous. i will read one of them out to you. i have on my phone... 0ne will read one of them out to you. i have on my phone... one of the messages states, you are disgusting, a typical fat white girl and to see what you looked like, too bad it was not you that you're a worker kidnapped and killed but i forgot you are not worth the time, being a fat pig. and that was one that was reported. they have brought race into it. they have brought the intention of kidnap and murder into the message. so that was reported to the message. so that was reported to the police. but i'm getting so many messages of hate and it is my fault,

it should have been me. and these messages get quite personal as well, the amount of times, i can deal with being called names and all sorts of things but being blamed for something so horrendous when i'm the only person —— the only person who should be blamed for that horrendous crime that went on and took place is wayne couzens himself. no one else did that, that was him. to be part of that and be tarred with the same brush and made out like it is just as much me at fault is what he is, is horrendous feeling. haifa as much me at fault is what he is, is horrendous feeling.— as much me at fault is what he is, is horrendous feeling. how do you think ou is horrendous feeling. how do you think you are _ is horrendous feeling. how do you think you are seen _ is horrendous feeling. how do you think you are seen by _ is horrendous feeling. how do you think you are seen by people? - is horrendous feeling. how do you think you are seen by people? i i think you are seen by people? i think you are seen by people? i think i am seen as this horrendous, awful person that has let an absolutely heinous crime take place and i am being looked at as if i am just as guilty as wayne couzens. and it is not the case at all. i have had people say that i should be put

in prison with the key thrown away, as if i committed the murder myself and the horrendous crimes he committed prior to that. literally there was nothing that i could have done that would have changed the outcome, and i don't want to be tarred with the same brush as an evil monster that that man is, so it has been an incredibly difficult situation and there is such high feelings in it from so many avenues and the way different people look at it. people have been really supportive, you should not be going through that, and there have been people sitting there who think i deserve even worse than what he does because i let this happen. [30 deserve even worse than what he does because i let this happen.— because i let this happen. do you think people _ because i let this happen. do you think people should _ because i let this happen. do you think people should show- because i let this happen. do you think people should show you - think people should show you sympathy? i think people should show you sympathy?— think people should show you smath? sympathy? i don't think people should show _ sympathy? i don't think people should show me _ sympathy? i don't think people should show me sympathy, - sympathy? i don't think people should show me sympathy, i i sympathy? i don't think people i should show me sympathy, i don't want sympathy at all. all they want is people to understand that there is people to understand that there is nothing i could have done. i hold my hands up to errors i made within the actual investigation itself, however, even if those errors had not been made, it still would not

have caught wayne couzens at that time. have caught wayne couzens at that time, ,,., ., ., have caught wayne couzens at that time, ., ., ., ~' have caught wayne couzens at that time. . . . ~' i” have caught wayne couzens at that time, ., ., ., ~' , ., ., time. samantha lee, thank you for talkin: to time. samantha lee, thank you for talking to newsnight. _ the met�*s deputy assistant commissioner stuart cundy told us in a statement... "an independent iopc investigation concluded former pc lee should face a misconduct hearing for allegations about her honesty and integrity and how she carried out her duties and responsibilities. a panel found that her actions fell below the professional standards expected of her. let's speak now to steven roberts, a former deputy assistant commissioner at the metropolitan police. mr roberts, samantha lee says showers a scapegoat, do you agree with her? ., ., �* , .,

with her? no, i don't. there is no doubt that— with her? no, i don't. there is no doubt that the _ with her? no, i don't. there is no doubt that the met _ with her? no, i don't. there is no doubt that the met and _ with her? no, i don't. there is no doubt that the met and indeed i with her? no, i don't. there is no l doubt that the met and indeed kent constabulary a corporate responsibility for what has happened, but i'm afraid that doesn't absolve samantha's from responsibility for a shoddy investigation and for lying repeatedly, as the disciplinary tribunal found, repeatedly, as the disciplinary tribunalfound, about repeatedly, as the disciplinary tribunal found, about what she had done and what she hadn't done. i'm afraid both are to blame here, and the met has no need of scapegoats, it has responsibility itself and it is a responsibility that it can't shirk and that it is getting on with reforming. shirk and that it is getting on with reformina. ., ., shirk and that it is getting on with reformin.. ., ., _ , shirk and that it is getting on with reformin.. ., ., , , shirk and that it is getting on with reformin.. . . , , ., reforming. samantha lee says she got no trainin: reforming. samantha lee says she got no training in — reforming. samantha lee says she got no training in minor _ reforming. samantha lee says she got no training in minor sexual— reforming. samantha lee says she got no training in minor sexual offences i no training in minor sexual offences like indecent exposure, and in fact baroness casey's review recently into the met highlighted a lack of understanding of sexual offending behaviour, she pointed to sloppy investigations with multiple missed

opportunities and under identification of repeat offenders, is there an issue with the training when it comes to indecent exposure? i don't think there is. indecent exposure is actually a relatively simple offence, it is not a highly technical offence, it is a straightforward matter of gaining evidence of only a couple of key elements of the offence, and then following through as with any other criminal offence. it is not a difficult one to deal with, and certainly an officer of seven years experience, which i understand this woman had, should have been perfectly capable of dealing with that without any supervision, albeit she should have been supervised by her sergeant, and if she wasn't properly supervised, or if you didn't tell the truth when showers being supervised, then there was an additional problem. but this is a simple offence, there shouldn't be any need whatsoever for specific

training around indecent exposure. that is interesting that you say there should be no need for specific training. the call that went into the police about the two indecent exposure incidents by rain couzens, 14th of february was one of them, 27th february 2021, was another, was classified as low urgency, comparatively low risk which meant that semantically was not assigned to the job to go to mcdonald's and try and take witness statements until the 3rd of march, does that...? until the 3rd of march, does that- - - ?_ until the 3rd of march, does that...? , . , that...? sadly, indecent exposure is all too common, _ that...? sadly, indecent exposure is all too common, but _ that...? sadly, indecent exposure is all too common, but it _ that...? sadly, indecent exposure is all too common, but it would - that...? sadly, indecent exposure is all too common, but it would have l that. . . ? sadly, indecent exposure is| all too common, but it would have to take its place in the huge number of reported offences that needed to be investigated, and unfortunately, and it is a fact of life, some offences have to come at the bottom of that list, and they have to be graded by the people who have got a proper view of all the workload that is

coming into a police station and how it can be allocated. i coming into a police station and how it can be allocated.— it can be allocated. i understand that and everybody _ it can be allocated. i understand i that and everybody understanding understands about resources but i wonder if that suggests a lack of knowledge, education, may be suggests complacency about the fact that indecent exposure can escalate and as we saw, did? i that indecent exposure can escalate and as we saw, did?— and as we saw, did? i don't think it reflects complacency. _ and as we saw, did? i don't think it reflects complacency. i _ and as we saw, did? i don't think it reflects complacency. i think- and as we saw, did? i don't think it reflects complacency. i think what l reflects complacency. i think what it reflects is a desperate struggle to match the resources available to the demands that are coming into the surface on a day by day basis. thank ou ve surface on a day by day basis. thank you very much _ surface on a day by day basis. thank you very much for — surface on a day by day basis. thank you very much for talking _ surface on a day by day basis. thank you very much for talking to - you very much for talking to us, missed roberts. this week the promise of a ceasefire was made by the warring factions in sudan — the sudanese army on the one hand and the rapid support forces on the other — but like many before it in the last six weeks already reports are emerging that it has failed. for the last few weeks, in collaboration with bbc news arabic we have followed events as they unfolded in sudan and have investigated disturbing evidence

of possible war crimes on medical facilities and staff perpetrated by both sides of the conflict. 0ur international correspondent nawal al—maghafi reports. it's mid—april. as violence breaks out in sudan, disturbing images of possible war crimes are emerging. they're being carried out on medical facilities and staff, by both sides. the fight between the sudanese army and the rival militia, the rapid support force, erupted when talks about a merger between the formerly allied militia broke down. they've now emptied the streets of the capital. guns fire. using satellite data and mapping

tools, we analysed user—generated content on a huge scale and spoke to dozens of doctors to build a picture of where the war crimes are being committed and the impact this is having on millions of people. this man is living right at the heart of the fighting. he has been documenting events as they unfold. and here is why. this is one of khartoum's main water treatment plants. 0n the first day of fighting it was hit. using satellite imagery,

we can see the impact. in this image in 2022, the tanks are full, but here, only days after being bombed, they're almost empty. the targeting of civilian lifelines can be classified as a war crime. hospitals are also being attacked. one of the first to be bombed is ibn sina. this doctor is a surgeon there. we investigated this.

this picture of the hospital matches this image showing the damage from the attack. a forensic weapons expert told us it could have been caused by artillery fire. we can't be certain who was responsible, or if this was a deliberate attack. the fact that there was no warning given prior to a strike may well constitute a war crime. when war crimes become a tactic of war, people no longer will really seek care and will be deprived of their right to access healthcare, and that is something of great concern. we analysed footage and received testimony from eyewitnesses at two other hospitals in khartoum. we were told that the rsf had surrounded them with their vehicles and anti—aircraft weapons. soldiers were being given priority over civilian patients, forcing them to leave the building.

at the start of the conflict there were 88 hospitals operating around khartoum. now only a handful are functioning. we tried to put our allegations to both sides, but only received a response from muhammad ibrahim from the rapid support forces. i asked him about allegations of rsf forces occupying hospitals, making them a target. what about our evidence of their soldiers receiving preferential treatment over civilians, i said, something that may be considered a war crime? doctors are a target, too — another potential war crime. we've seen messages widely circulated threatening

doctors by name, even sharing their id number. this video shows a sudanese major general accusing doctors of being rebels. several doctors told us they have gone into hiding, too afraid to do theirjob. even though multiple ceasefires have been promised, the fighting in sudan hasn't stopped and hospitals are still being targeted. over a million people are now displaced.

six weeks in, the situation is becoming even more desperate. thousands have decided the only solution is to leave. before we go, as you can see from the papers, one big story is dominating the front pages. phillip schofield has resigned from itv after admitting he lied about what he describes as a "relationship" with a younger colleague. in the statement that schofield put out, he said... "i am painfully conscious that i have lied to my employers at itv, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media here to discuss the implications of this story for itv bosses, we have paul connew, former editor of the sunday mirror.

good evening, i want to ask you about what this does mean for the reputation of itv? i about what this does mean for the reputation of itv?— reputation of itv? i think there will be some _ reputation of itv? i think there will be some serious _ reputation of itv? i think there l will be some serious discussions taking place at a high level at itv about weather there is a wash over effect here with audience ratings and among advertisers and if you look at the social media streams tonight, a lot of people who would normally be watching the programme are in fact attacking the whole situation. so, it is a question here of who knew what. it is a pretty open secret that this relationship existed, but the question is how high up the executive chain did the knowledge go? for example, eamonn holmes, a former high—profile member of the team on this morning, is treating tonight that there has been a massive cover—up by itv... that treating tonight that there has been a massive cover-up by itv. .. that is interesting — a massive cover-up by itv. .. that is interesting because _ a massive cover-up by itv. .. that is interesting because if _ a massive cover-up by itv. .. that is interesting because if you _ a massive cover-up by itv. .. that is interesting because if you look i a massive cover-up by itv. .. that is interesting because if you look at i interesting because if you look at the statement from phillip schofield, said he lied to his

employers at itv, and itv say in their statement, employers at itv, and itv say in theirstatement, philip employers at itv, and itv say in their statement, philip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue. does that tags on weight management? itiiz�* tags on weight management? it? management will certainly be hoping so. —— does that exoneration management? but this story, and the resignation, basically the expulsion, of phillip schofield not only by itv but by his own management agency, stems from the fact, i am virtually certain, that at least one if not more than one national newspaper this weekend was going to take this story a lot further forward, going to take this story a lot furtherforward, and i think that going to take this story a lot further forward, and i think that is what has pre—empted this. and it is a fair question that will be asked by both the tabloids and the serious papers over the weekend, is, what did the hierarchy at itv know about this and when? and that is a

perfectly legitimate question. what perfectly legitimate question. what will be