ITV boss: Schofield stunt was wrong

Phillip Schofield was wrong to confront the Prime Minister with a list of alleged paedophiles, says ITV's director of television
16 November 2012

ITV's director of television has admitted Phillip Schofield was "wrong" in confronting David Cameron with a list of alleged paedophiles on live TV, adding that the action was "misguided".

In an interview on ITV News, Peter Fincham said that he would be responding to letters from Lord McAlpine and Tory MP John Whittingdale "very quickly".

TV regulator Ofcom has received 415 complaints about last week's incident and has launched an investigation into it.

Mr Fincham said he was "confident this sort of thing won't happen again".

He said: "I think the way This Morning interviewed the Prime Minister last Thursday or that portion of the interview was wrong, was misguided.

"I'm not happy that this happened. We have editorial processes and checks in place and, to be honest with you, they weren't followed so I'm not happy about that but I think the way we have tackled this and responded to this has been quick and decisive."

Mr Fincham said the channel would "co-operate fully" with the Ofcom investigation. He said he was unable to discuss the disciplinary action taken against those involved in the production but the matter had been taken "extremely seriously".

He added: "I've spoken to Phillip Schofield myself. He realises his mistake. He apologised for it extremely fully and extremely quickly and I discussed that with him and I think he's under no illusions that this was a lapse in ITV journalism; this is something we shouldn't have done."

Former BBC One controller Mr Fincham, who resigned from the corporation in 2007 after misleading footage appearing to show the Queen storming out of a photoshoot was used in a trailer, added that Schofield "stays on air".

His interview follows a demand by Mr Whittingdale, who is chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, that ITV reveals who was involved in the decision to show Mr Cameron the list during the programme.

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