This Morning boss to step down after ten years in charge and Phillip Schofield scandal
THIS Morning boss Martin Frizell is stepping down from the ITV show after ten years in charge and the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Martin, 65, joined the channel in 2014 as editor of Loose Women before taking up his decade long tenure as This Morning editor, which he will leave in Spring 2025.
While he still has a couple of months left in the job, The Sun understands ITV staffers have been left blindsided by the move since there isn't even a replacement ready to be ushered in.
A source said: "It's a real shock to everyone on the show - he's been working there for so long.
"Nobody saw it coming at all. As far as everyone knows they have nobody lined up to replace him either."
This Morning, now in its 37th year, is one of the UK’s longest running programmes and Martin is the show’s longest serving editor.
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In his announcement, he said: “Next year I’m expecting my family priorities to change so I need to free up time for them.
"I love my team at ITV and will miss them and the thrill of live telly but it’s an always on, 24 hours a day, seven days a week commitment and I won’t be able to do both.
"It’s been a privilege to lead truly great presenters and producers, between us we’ve turned out more than six thousand hours of live topical telly, that’s around 20,000 items and whilst the gongs are always nice.
"I’m most proud of the change we made to so many lives, even saving a fair few with our campaigns on anti suicide, menopause, testicular cancer and ‘how - to’ items.
"This juggernaut is the toughest test for any broadcast journalist.”
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director, Media and Entertainment added: “This Morning is an iconic show in ITV’s schedule, and heading the team for a decade, producing more than ten hours of original, topical, live television every week is an amazing achievement.
“As a programme and a brand, Martin has made sure the show continues to be a household name, an award-winning staple of the schedule with a growing successful presence in digital and social.
"On behalf of the ITV Network, we thank Martin and wish him the very best for his future ventures.”
Emma Gormley, Managing Director, ITV Studios Daytime, said: “Martin has brought so much success to This Morning over the last decade which has seen an evolving landscape of changing and diversifying viewing habits.
"Under Martin, This Morning is now one of the nation’s most engaged formats, on both ITV and social platforms, hitting an amazing 1 billion views across this year alone; an incredible legacy.
“I am proud of the brilliance and energy that he has brought to his role as custodian of this iconic brand.
"Martin's decade-long contribution to the longevity and good health of our flagship show has been remarkable, and he leaves it in a place where it can continue to thrive into the next decade and beyond.”
ITV says Martin’s successor will be announced in due course.
Martin has an illustrious career under his belt as a journalist, TV producer and editor.
He climbed the ranks to success with his wife and fellow small screen star Fiona Phillips, 62, by his side.
Martin began his professional career as a researcher for the BBC before moving on to generating content for other major TV networks.
As well as his TV triumphs, he's a writer and journalist, his work has appeared in The Sun, The Daily Mail and The Mirror.
He was acknowledged for his work in TV by being given the Royal Television Society Fellowship in 2016.
In the past, Martin worked as a correspondent for Thomson Reuters and GMTV for seven years according to his LinkedIn.
Martin was also the editor of GMTV for 10 years before his shocking exit.
Regarding the choice to leave, he said: "ITV's merger with GMTV seems like a natural point for my chapter with Britain's best breakfast show to close and a new one to start."
After leaving GMTV, he worked as the UK correspondent for the Australian breakfast show Channel 7 Sunrise.
Martin also made a brief foray into the world of PR as an executive producer at GolinHarris.
His time there was short as he took the job as the editor of the longest running all female panel show, Loose Women before moving to This Morning,
Martin married broadcaster Fiona in May 1997.
The couple share two sons, Nathaniel and Mackenzie.
Last July, the mum-of-two revealed she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 62.
The TV star, who had been suffering with brain fog for months prior to the diagnosis, said she is "heartbroken" at having the same condition that has plagued her family.
The cruel blow, which Fiona has been secretly living with for 18 months, has come earlier in life than Fiona had anticipated.
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She continued: "It’s something I might have thought I’d get at 80. But I was still only 61 years old."
Martin is said to have remained by her side for support following the shock Alzheimer's diagnosis.
