A handful of Phillip Schofield’s former This Morning colleagues have publicly shown their support for the 62-year-old’s return to television screens.
On Monday, Schofield will star in the new series Cast Away on Channel 5 – 16 months since he left ITV.
Schofield hit headlines after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger runner on This Morning which he hid from bosses.
He’s been absent from the spotlight for much of 2024 but has been making steady returns back into the public eye through his social media posts this year.
Now, it’s accumulated in a TV return in Cast Away which sees the former This Morning star marooned on a desert island with no means of communication with the outside world.
The Channel 5 series begins on Monday night and in an emotional trailer, Schofield is left tearful and promising to tell his “side of the story”.
Phillip Schofield stars in Channel 5’s Cast Away
CHANNEL 5
In the clip, he tells viewers: “I’ve been cast away on a desert island completely on my own.
“All I have is camera gear, I can say whatever I want about whoever I want.
“It’s my chance to tell my side of my story. I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to absolutely destroy someone?”
Schofield shared a clip of himself from the show on his Instagram page on Wednesday, informing fans: “Now you know how I spent my Summer!
“Alone for 10 days, no food, no water, no crew. My story of survival, both on a desert island and off it.
“Cast Away starts Monday on @channel5_tv & My5 at 9pm,” he continued, which prompted several of his former ITV stars to make their stance on the TV comeback known by reacting to the social media post.
This Morning star Josie Gibson gave the post a ‘like’, as did Celebrity Juice star Leigh Francis.
After Schofield also shared the trailer for Cast Away, Francis gave the update another ‘like’, as did This Morning star Alison Hammond.
While Schofield has promised to lay bare all in the Channel 5 series, the 62-year-old has been accused of coming across as “inauthentic” and “staged”.
Celebrity PR Specialist Kayley Cornelius said: “Phillip Schofield appears to be really leaning into the ‘dishevelled man’ persona with his questionable TV comeback choice. The deserted setting and off-the-cuff look come across as subtle attempts to evoke sympathy from viewers at home.
Phillip Schofield and ITV severed ties in May last year
PA
“While the show is designed to look authentic and raw, it’s a far cry from anything we’ve seen Phil do before, which feels inauthentic and staged.
“Additionally, the entire storyline is overly dramatic and seems curated not only with external help but also in a way that allows Phil to almost play into this ‘broken’ character to fit the tone. If moving beyond his affair was Phil’s goal, he may have sabotaged himself, as this show will likely only reignite discussions about the scandal.
“When recovering from a PR crisis, there are three key stages known as the three ‘A’s’ in PR: accountability, apology, and action. These serve as a protocol for addressing and moving on from an incident. Phil has already acknowledged the situation and apologised, but the real test in the series will be how much accountability he takes for his actions.
“While documenting his Bear Grylls-esque adventure might help shift attention away from his personal struggles, for this show to be a successful move for Phil, he will need to strike a real balance between being honest and remorseful, while also taking accountability and showing clear signs of change.
“The pressure is truly on for Phil. While he knew that his next major move would be crucial, this series also marks his last chance to revive his career.
“If this doesn’t pan out well and resonate with viewers at home, making a full comeback will be nearly impossible for him,” she added on behalf of Betfred.