PHILLIP Schofield’s TV comeback will be ‘unbelievably raw’ and ’emotional viewing’.
The Sun exclusively revealed earlier tonight that the 62 year-old will make his return to the small screen for the first time in 16 months in a Channel 5 special, Cast Away.
Phillip Schofield’s TV return will make for ’emotional viewing’ say insiders[/caption]
Cast Away will air on Monday and was filmed by Phillip himself[/caption]
Phillip was shown from the back in the teaser for the show[/caption]
The show will see him marooned on the tropical island of Madagascar, where Phil will self-film his powerful journey and lay bare everything he has been through since being axed from This Morning.
An insider told us: “After 42 years on telly, Phillip has learnt from some great crews and teams on how to film and tell a story. With 10 days to himself, no camera crews or production around, he shot some unbelievably raw footage – some of it makes for tough, emotional viewing.
“But he wanted a chance to share his story, unedited and honest, and let viewers see another side to him.”
The show will air next Monday, and there will be three episodes in total.
The Sun understands that Phillip turned down several big money offers from ITV and BBC to go with Channel 5 for his first vehicle since his public fall from grace.
The source added: “Over the past few months Phil has had quite a few offers for various things – but has steadfastly turned them all down.
“This sort of challenge has always appealed to him though and after consulting with friends and family, he decided to go for it.
“It’s all been top secret, and has been an incredibly quick turnaround in order to keep the news quiet.”
Phillip has teased his comeback, posting ‘Watch this space…9am’ followed by a winking emoji on his instagram stories tonight.
Channel 5’s official teaser for the show describes it as: “A celebrity marooned on an uninhabited tropical island for 10 days is challenged with total isolation, the forces of nature and the battle within his own mind.”
Phillip was fired from This Morning back in May 2023 after an affair with a younger colleague.
He lost his friendship with former co-host Holly Willoughby, which was already strained in the run-up to the scandal being exposed, and lost his hosting gig on Dancing On Ice.
He was replaced by Stephen Mulhern on the talent show, while Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley took over from Holly and Phil on the long-running daytime juggernaut.
Phil returned to social media after a year-long silence in May this year.
It will mark Phillip’s first TV show since he left This Morning[/caption]
Phil’s TV return
SOME thought it would never happen. He thought it would never happen.
But after an 16 month exile, Phillip Schofield is back where he belongs: on television.
A lot has happened in this time – none of it involving Phil; he has gone from household name to household recluse.
I was the first person to interview Phillip in the wake of his axing from This Morning, and he was a shell of a man.
Pale, gaunt and visibly shaking, his spoke, haltingly, in a whisper.
Nailing vape after vape – he did more for Lost Mary’s brand awareness than any publish team ever could – this award-winning presenter genuinely thought his once glittering career was over.
Many came out in support of him in the wake of that interview but still he couldn’t face opening himself up for more public scrutiny.
He has said “no” to every opportunity that’s since come his way.
But evidently the chance to re-set, quite literally, on a remote tropical island has proven too big a draw.
This is a chance for Phillip to have his say – raw, unfiltered and honest. Who knows what will emerge. (Only Phil, a few Madagascan crabs, and a channel 5 edit suite will know).
Sure, it’s a risk – anything involving TV cameras generally is – but it’s one worth taking.
