TV Doctor Opens Up About His Departure and Advocacy for Workplace Wellbeing

Dr Ranj Singh has defended his decision to speak out about the alleged “bullying and discrimination” at This Morning, calling it “the right thing to do.” The TV doctor, who was the resident medical expert on ITV’s flagship morning show, clarified that his comments were not aimed at former presenter Phillip Schofield, but were instead about ensuring a healthier work environment for everyone involved in the production.

Dr Ranj left This Morning two years ago and released a statement shortly after Schofield’s own departure from the show in the wake of his secret affair revelations. In his statement, the doctor highlighted what he described as a “toxic” culture at the show and shared his belief that his concerns, raised during his time at ITV, led to him being “managed out” for whistleblowing.

Speaking at the Attitude Pride Awards 2023, Dr Ranj expanded on his previous statement, emphasizing that his actions were not about personal grievances but about creating a better workplace environment for all staff. “Hopefully, some good will come out of this. That was the key thing behind it. It wasn’t about me. It wasn’t about Phillip [Schofield] at all. I’ve made no comment on that situation,” he explained. “My point was about creating a better working environment for everybody.”

Dr Ranj highlighted the importance of a supportive work culture, stating, “Workplaces need to be good for people’s wellbeing. We all work in pressurised areas, I work in the NHS, but it’s really important that we look after our staff and employees to get the best out of them. That’s all it is, it’s just basic duty of care to everyone.”

When asked about returning to This Morning, Dr Ranj responded with confidence, saying, “I work on Morning Live now which gets double the ratings.”

In his initial statement, Dr Ranj had expressed how deeply he had valued his time working at ITV but became increasingly troubled by the backstage culture. He revealed he had taken his concerns directly to ITV leadership, stating that the environment at This Morning had become toxic and no longer aligned with the company’s values. He also explained that, following his whistleblowing, the process of his departure was “heart-breaking” and impacted his mental health.

Despite these challenges, Dr Ranj said he was now in a better place, having “found my feet again” and learned to understand his worth. He concluded with a call for courage in confronting toxic practices: “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’s chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall, wrote a letter to several government officials, stating that an external review conducted following the complaints found “no evidence of bullying or discrimination.”