Under-fire TV presenter Phillip Schofield is to star in reality show, in which he will be marooned on a desert island off the coast of Madagascar.
The former This Morning host has kept a low profile since leaving ITV 16 months ago, after he admitted having an affair with a younger male colleague, while married with children. Schofield, who called the affair “unwise but not illegal”, has reportedly already filmed Cast Away for Channel 5.
Picturing Schofield in a grey shirt, looking worn and weather-beaten, The Sun reported that he was left on the island for 10 days, with no crew and only cameras to record footage.
“Over the past few months Phil has had quite a few offers for various things but has steadfastly turned them down,” a source told the newspaper on Tuesday (24 September).
Phillip Schofield left This Morning last year. (BBC)
“This sort of challenge has always appealed to him though, and, after consulting friends and family, he decided to go for it. It’s all been top secret and [there] has been an incredibly quick turnaround in order to keep the news quiet.
“After 42 years on telly, Phillip has learnt from some great crews and teams how to film and tell a story. With 10 days to himself, no camera crews or production around, he shot some unbelievably raw footage. Some of it makes for tough, emotional viewing. But he wanted a chance to share his story, unedited and honest, and let viewers see another side to him.
“Whilst this is a massive coup for Channel 5, and huge for Phillip, he’s in no rush to come back to TV full-time yet. He remains very bruised, and is just taking some time now to weigh things up before he makes any major decisions,” the source continued.
Channel 5 teased the series on Monday (23 September) on X/Twitter with a post showing a mystery star and the caption: “A celebrity marooned on an uninhabited tropical island off the coast of Madagascar for 10 days is challenged with total isolation, the forces of nature and the battle within their own mind.”
Coming Soon to Channel 5…
A celebrity marooned on an uninhabited tropical island off the coast of Madagascar for 10 days is challenged with total isolation, the forces of nature, and the battle within their own mind. pic.twitter.com/O1vFUJUfbx
— Channel 5 (@channel5_tv) September 23, 2024
The Sun’s story came after Schofield posted the message “watch this space” on his Instagram story, alongside an emoji of a winking face.
Philip Schofield left This Morning in 2023 after an affair scandal
Schofield gave a tell-all interview in June 2023, shortly after the affair came to light. He met the unnamed boy “when he was a teenager and was asked to help him get into television”, he said. “It became more than a friendship” after the young man began working on This Morning.
After the story broke, an ITV spokesperson said they were “deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit” and that the network felt “badly let down”.
Schofield’s lawyers confirmed to the Evening Standard that the boy was just 15 when the pair met but reiterated that the relationship didn’t begin until years later.
Cast Away airs over three nights beginning on 30 September.
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