Dr Ranj Singh Speaks Out About Alleged Bullying and Discrimination on ITV's This Morning
Key Highlights :
Dr Ranj Singh, the former resident doctor on ITV's This Morning, has spoken out about his experience of alleged bullying and discrimination on the show. In a statement released shortly after Phillip Schofield's departure from the show, Dr Ranj said he had raised concerns while working at ITV and felt like he was 'managed out' for whistleblowing.
At the Attitude Pride Awards 2023, Dr Ranj discussed the social media statement, saying: “I did everything I was supposed to do and everything that I believed was the right thing to do and hopefully some good will come out of all of this. “That was the key thing behind it. It wasn’t about me. It wasn’t about Phillip at all.”
Dr Ranj said he had thought 'long and hard' about posting about his departure from This Morning, but felt the need to 'clarify some things'. He said he had 'genuinely loved and valued' working at ITV but had become 'increasingly worried about how things were behind-the-scenes and how people, including myself, were being treated.'
He added: "I even took my concerns directly to the top of ITV: the culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values, and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out. The whole process was heart-breaking and even affected my mental health . But I’m happy to say I’ve found my feet again, know my worth and have found my tribe… There are some good people in TV , but we need to be brave and stand up to those who aren’t. Even if it’s scary as hell, we have to do the right thing otherwise nothing will change.”
In response to Dr Ranj's allegations, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall wrote a letter to the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, DCMS Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage and Ofcom’s chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes. In the letter, she said an external review conducted following Dr Ranj’s complaint had found “no evidence of bullying or discrimination”.
The statement from Dr Ranj has sparked a wider conversation about workplace culture and the need for employers to ensure their staff are treated with respect and dignity. It is hoped that his story will encourage more people to speak out if they are facing similar issues and that employers will take steps to ensure their staff are in a safe and supportive environment.
