Kerry Katona Slams Phillip Schofield’s Return to TV as ‘Tone-Deaf’
Kerry Katona has not held back in criticizing Phillip Schofield’s upcoming TV return, calling his new reality show Cast Away a “tone-deaf” move. Schofield, 62, who stepped down from This Morning in 2023 after admitting to an extramarital affair with a younger colleague, is set to make his comeback with a three-part documentary series on Channel 5. However, despite her harsh words, Kerry admitted she would still tune in.
In her OK! Magazine column, the former Atomic Kitten star wrote, “Phillip Schofield is back on screen this week with his Channel 5 show Cast Away, and I was quite surprised at his return to television. If I’m honest, I think it’s a really self-indulgent move to have him alone on a desert island, playing the pity card. He talks about living with absolutely nothing on this island, but then he goes back to his big house, wealth, and home comforts. I think it’s really tone-deaf. Saying that, we’re obviously all watching it, aren’t we?”
Schofield’s new series follows him as he isolates himself on a desert island to reflect on his past, including the controversial affair that led to his downfall. In a trailer for Cast Away, Schofield questions whether his actions were severe enough to “absolutely destroy” him. He reflects, “I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to absolutely destroy someone?”
Kerry’s criticism of Schofield comes from a personal place. In 2008, she was interviewed by Phillip on This Morning and faced public backlash after appearing to slur her words during the segment. Later, Kerry explained that the slurring was due to her medication, but the lack of aftercare from ITV left her battling depression. She recalled, “When I got home after that interview, it was like a crime scene. There were reporters, camera crews, and paparazzi. ITV never once reached out to me.”
In a recent interview on GB News’ Dan Wootton Tonight, Kerry addressed the toxicity she experienced at ITV, explaining how it affected her mental health. She clarified that despite her past issues with Schofield, they had since reconciled. “I’m not here to jump on the bandwagon and pull Phillip Schofield down. We actually did kiss and make up. When he came out, I sent him a text saying he was very brave.”
As Schofield’s Cast Away prepares to hit screens, it’s clear that opinions are divided. While Kerry Katona is among those who believe his return is ill-timed, she—and many others—still plan to watch and see how the disgraced presenter tells his side of the story.