Phillip Schofield Reaches Major Milestone as He Announces TV Return

Phillip Schofield, the former This Morning star, is set to make his highly anticipated return to television with the new Channel 5 series, Cast Away, after a 16-month hiatus following his resignation from ITV. The 62-year-old presenter shared the news of his comeback on Instagram, revealing details about the show that marks his return to the spotlight.

“Now you know how I spent my Summer!” Schofield wrote in his post. “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.” The series, spread across three episodes, will see Schofield isolated on a desert island off the coast of Madagascar, documenting his experience and personal struggles.

The show’s synopsis promises a raw and challenging journey as Phillip confronts “the challenges of total isolation, the forces of nature, and the battle within their own mind.” With only cameras to record his time on the island, Phillip’s return is shaping up to be both a personal and professional test.

While the post garnered thousands of likes from his followers, the reaction from celebrity friends was noticeably subdued. Only This Morning stars Dermot O’Leary and Josie Gibson showed public support by liking the post, while comments on the post were disabled, perhaps to avoid potential backlash.

Cast Away will air on Channel 5 starting Monday, September 30, at 9 pm, with subsequent episodes on Tuesday, October 1, and Wednesday, October 2. This series marks Schofield’s first return to television since May 2023, when he resigned from ITV after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague. The scandal also led to a fallout with his long-time friend and co-host, Holly Willoughby, contributing to his long absence from the public eye.

Schofield’s comeback has sparked mixed reactions online. While some viewers expressed excitement, one user remarked, “Unpopular opinion but quite looking forward for #phillipschofield documentary.” Others, however, were less supportive. “If this is designed to make people feel sorry for him, it will backfire massively,” one critic posted. “People were just starting to forget, and now they are raking it all up again.”

As Schofield steps back into the spotlight, it remains to be seen how Cast Away will be received, but one thing is clear: his return is bound to stir conversation.