Joanna Lumley Faces Backlash After Supporting Phillip Schofield on Channel 5’s Cast Away: ‘Shame on You’

Actress Joanna Lumley, 78, found herself under fire after making a surprise cameo on Channel 5’s Phillip Schofield: Cast Away, as reported by GB News. The appearance came as Schofield, 62, returned to TV screens for the first time since his scandalous exit from This Morning in 2023. The show follows Schofield as he embarks on a survival challenge on a remote island off the coast of Madagascar, where he promised to tell “my side of my story.”

In the first episode, viewers watched as Schofield tackled survival techniques while sharing emotional moments with his wife and daughters. His eldest daughter, Molly, even broke down in tears as she reflected on the criticism her father has faced since the scandal broke. Schofield had been forced to leave ITV after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.

However, what caught viewers off guard was a pre-recorded message from Schofield’s longtime friend, Joanna Lumley. Lumley, who is no stranger to survival challenges after her own adventure in Madagascar decades ago, offered some lighthearted advice. “Hello Phil, this is Joanna Lumley,” she began. “Keep your knives sharp, don’t spend too much of the day trying to find wood or you won’t be able to eat anything.”

Her advice took a humorous turn when she reminisced about her own survival experience: “When I was on the island, I made a pair of shoes out of my bra – and I’d love to think you could do something like that.” She ended her message by blowing Schofield a kiss, adding, “I shall be thinking about you a lot, Phil. And actually, I’m a bit jealous, lots of love.”

While Schofield beamed and emotionally thanked her, saying, “Oh, you darling. That’s amazing,” social media erupted with criticism aimed at Lumley for showing support for Schofield, given his controversial past. One disappointed viewer tweeted, “Joanna Lumley… shame on you.” Another added, “Joanna Lumley of all people is giving Phillip Schofield advice… it’s totally random.”

Despite the backlash, some viewers were glad to see Schofield’s return to television. One fan defended both Lumley and Schofield, writing, “It’s SO good having Schofe back on my telly… even Joanna Lumley is on his side.”

As the episode continued, Schofield battled the wilderness, but the conversation online was dominated by reactions to Lumley’s appearance, with some viewers expressing disappointment while others showed their support.