Phillip Schofield, 62, announced last week that he will be returning to TV screens after he stepped down from his presenting role on ITV’s This Morning – 16 months after his “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.
During his TV return – which will see him stranded on an island for 10 days during Channel 5’s Cast Away – Schofield’s family also features, where his wife Stephanie Lowe, 60, opens up on her fears for his return.
Taking to his Instagram last week, Schofield confirmed his return and said: “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 9 pm,” with the comments being turned off from the post.
Across the episodes, Lowe is seen sharing her fears for the star after she stayed friends with him through everything, and explains: “What people don’t realise is that they batter you but then there are other people affected.
“There’s no question that by doing this you’re popping your head back up above the parapet for the very few horrid people that there are out there.”
Stephanie has stayed by Phillip’s side since the scandal last May
PA
Schofield’s daughter also shared her support for her father and admitted that whilst many thought the scandal would rip the family apart, it has actually brought them “closer” together.
She shared: “What people don’t realise is that they batter you but then there are other people affected. We’ve seen him in his lowest times, but I’ve been so proud of him, and as a daughter to see the love that people had for him that when it’s taken away it’s just heartbreaking.
“Weirdly everything that’s happened recently has made us closer. When my dad came out, it was, it was very hard for me. It was very hard for the entire family. Mainly my mum, of course, everything was turned upside down. But we talked through it and over time it’s got easier.”
Since the news of his return, Schofield and Channel 5 have taken drastic measures to ensure the backlash is kept to a minimum, with many slamming the broadcaster for turning the comments off on their social media posts.
Molly spoke out about the scandal and how it brought the family close together
PA
Whilst the measure has made it harder for online trolls, it hasn’t stopped some of Schofield’s former ITV stars from speaking out about his return, including Loose Women star Nadiya Sawalha.
Speaking on the Coffee Moaning podcast, she said: “[The trailer] was popping onto phones all over the place yesterday and everyone was aghast. When I was first sent it, there was no message with it, so I thought it was a joke.
“I just couldn’t believe it. It took me so long to get to grips with it. Then I re-watched it. First of all, I cringed. If I’m honest, I absolutely cringed when I saw that video. I thought, ‘That is so embarrassing.’ That was my first feeling.
“He’s also very clever so I think he understands an audience and I think he knows how to speak to an audience. So I think, yes, he’ll be very, very careful.”
Phillip Schofield will make his TV return on Channel 5’s Castaway
CHANNEL 5
She added: “He lied to everybody at work. He left people to deal with his s**t, I feel, in my opinion. There are so many people he’s upset. There’s so much shame involved in this and before anybody dares say this is from a homophobic point of view – it is not, at all! I would be like this right across the board.
“I have always stood up against people in positions of power and money and status. I will always stick up for the young person that was swayed by that.”
Among the backlash Schofe has received, it seems he still has some issues with former co-star and best friend Holly Willoughby, as he seemed to mock her previous This Morning comeback speech where she asked viewers “Are you ok?”.
The Metro reported that Schofield can be seen in the episode sitting down at the dinner table with his family, he quipped about the moment, telling his family: “If you’re ok then we’re ok and I’m ok. Are you ok?”