Phillip Schofield 'could yet save his career' - 'Time heals and people do come back'

But speaking to GB News, Jonathan Shalit, the chairman of the showbiz agency, Intertalent, said he could still turn things around.

He said: “The most important thing is that Phillip hasn't broken the law. Today is a very dark day and the last few weeks have been very tough for him.

"I do share some thoughts that what he is now receiving is completely disproportionate - he's been punished in a way that has really bashed his life beyond imagination, but he will pick himself up.

"I think the one thing he should hold onto is that time heals.

“Look at Jeremy Kyle, when that terrible thing happened on his show. He was out for a while and now he’s back working. People do come back.

"These media storms happen quite regularly. They explode for a short period of time. And I think this is exactly that - a media story that is way bigger than the actual issue and it will disappear fairly quickly.”

On the way ITV has behaved he added: “I actually know from personal experience, the processes ITV has in place are actually excellent when it comes to welfare, that’s welfare for the talents and people associated with the company.”

Asked if he thinks Holly’s career will take a tumble, Shalit said: “There's no reason why she shouldn't continue her career.

"She's made absolutely clear she didn't know and there’s no way to show she didn't know so therefore, you're innocent until proven guilty. She's one of Britain's best broadcasters.

"I don't represent her so I can say that objectively. She's very experienced and she will come back and continue as long as she wants.”

It comes after the Chair of Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said ITV appears to be "lurching from one tragic disaster to another".

Speaking to GB News, Dame Caroline Dinenage - who is set to grill ITV's chief executive over Phillip Schofield's departure from This Morning - said the broadcaster "does not have a very good track record" with duty of care towards staff and complaint handling.

Former This Morning presenter Schofield compared himself to Caroline Flack as he said he was "broken" and had "lost everything".

"If my girls hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here. Because I don’t see a future. How much do you want a man to take – and are you truly only happy when he’s dead?" he told the BBC.