Furious This Morning staff overlooked for invites to glitzy National Television Awards

MIFFED This Morning staff have been overlooked for invites to this week’s glitzy National Television Awards.

Show bosses are “slimming down” their party and will take only on-screen talent and senior executives to the prestige event.

ITV

ITV stars are heading to the National Television Awards but show bosses are cutting the number of staff attending[/caption]

Backroom workers will have to watch Holly Willoughby, 42, Alison Hammond, 48, and Dermot O’Leary, 50, from home on the telly on Tuesday night.

Sources reckon bosses have cut back because they fear the Philip Schofield scandal could put the skids under This Morning’s chances of landing Best Daytime Show for the 13th year in a row.

It is up against ITV sister show Loose Women, tea-time quiz favourite The Chase and BBC’s The Repair Shop at the shindig at London’s O2 Arena.

There are also ongoing allegations of a toxic culture backstage on This Morning.

A TV source said: “People are upset at the slimming down as the show is such a group effort and the awards are usually a big night out for the whole team.

“They’re blaming the cost-of-living crisis but seem to be splashing the cash elsewhere.

“It doesn’t help with shutting down rumours of a toxic atmosphere.

“Some people suspect that bosses know it isn’t going to be a stellar year for This Morning after all the scandal and they know they may not win.”

ITV has drafted in barrister Jane Mulcahy KC to examine the circumstances of 61-year-old Schofield’s relationship with a much younger male runner.