Phillip Schofield Returns to Television with Channel 5 Special

Phillip Schofield is set to make his return to television with a new Channel 5 special, titled “Cast Away,” as reported 16 months after his departure from ITV‘s “This Morning.” The programme will see the former TV host marooned on an uninhabited tropical island off the coast of Madagascar for ten days, with only a few cameras capturing his solitary experience.

The 62-year-old television personality announced the show via an Instagram story, where he hinted at the project by stating, “Watch this space…9am.” Schofield’s return marks a significant moment following his hiatus from the public eye after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague, which led to his resignation from ITV in May 2023.

An external review conducted by Jane Mulcahy KC revealed that ITV had made “considerable efforts” to investigate the allegations of a relationship between Schofield and a younger colleague in 2019. However, the broadcaster only uncovered the full extent after Schofield’s admission. The inquiry was commissioned by ITV’s chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall.

The new series, “Phillip Schofield: Cast Away,” will air over three nights and provide Schofield a chance to reflect on his life over the past two years. “This is most definitely a first for me and the only thing I felt compelled to do,” Schofield said about the new venture, adding he was keen to explore both the physical and mental challenges posed by the project.

Channel 5’s head of commissioning, Guy Davies, described the programme as not just a survival challenge but also an opportunity for Schofield to address events from the last 18 months publicly. “The audience will learn how he feels now about television and the future, as well as the past,” Davies noted.

The announcement was met with mixed reactions online, with some viewers expressing concern that the programme might be an attempt at redemption for Schofield. Channel 5 released a short teaser video on social media, showing a figure presumed to be Schofield walking along a remote beach.

Phillip Schofield: Cast Away will premiere at 9pm on Monday on Channel 5, offering viewers an intimate look at Schofield’s journey and his reflections on past personal and professional experiences.