Phillip Schofield signs with Channel 5 for new ‘top secret’ show 16 months after being dumped by ITV

PHILLIP Schofield is making his TV return – 16 months after being axed from This Morning.

The 62-year-old presenter secretly filmed a Channel 5 special, Cast Away, in which he is stranded on a tropical island for 10 days.

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Phillip will be seen fending for himself on an island off the coast of Madagascar, filming himself as he fights for survival – and emotionally discussing his last two years of hell.

Last night a source said: “Phil has had a lot of offers for various things over the last few months but he has always turned them down.

“This kind of challenge has always attracted him and after consulting his friends and family, he decided to take the plunge. Everything was kept secret and everything happened very quickly in order to keep the news secret.

“After 42 years in television, Phillip has learned from some great crews how to film and tell a story.

“With 10 days to himself, with no crew or production around, he shot some incredibly raw footage – some of it makes for difficult and emotional viewing.

“But he wanted a chance to share his story, unedited and honestly, and allow viewers to see another side of him.

“While this is a huge blow for Channel 5 and a huge blow for Phillip, he is in no rush to return to television full-time just yet; he remains very hurt and is just taking time to think things over before making any major decisions.”

Joanna Lumley and Ruby Wax have both previously travelled to a remote island off the coast of Madagascar to film their survival journeys.

Joanna famously made shoes out of her bra in the BBC series Girl Friday in 1994, while last year Ruby filmed the Channel 5 version.
Phillip was provided with a handheld camera, isolated sound pack and wearable body cameras for his solo documentary.

The three-part series – which was teased by Chanel 5 over the weekend, showing just a snippet of the star’s head and tanned legs – will air on Monday night.

On its social media pages, Channel 5 posted a short clip of Phillip walking on a remote beach with the words: “Celebrity stranded on uninhabited tropical island for 10 days faces total isolation, the forces of nature and the battle within his own mind.”

Fans have been guessing who they think it is with names including Keir Starmer, Jermaine Jenas, Ben Fogle, Joe Swash and James Corden all being mentioned.

“Watch this space”

It will be the first time the presenter – who told his three million Instagram fans in a “watch this space” story last night – has been seen on mainstream television since he was sacked from ITV’s This Morning.

Holly Willoughby then left the show, leaving the daytime show facing its biggest crisis in 35 years.

Phillip’s sacking follows a brief affair with a younger member of staff that he confessed to, prompting an external investigation. goodbye of the programme’s culture, which ultimately cleared ITV of any wrongdoing.

With 10 days to himself, with no crew or production around, he shot some incredibly raw footage.

A source

The backlash cost him all his TV work, including Dancing On Ice, and he fell out with his former best friend Holly, who was unsupportive once the scandal broke.

He also quit all social media – but rejoined 18 weeks ago with a photo of his puppy, Alfie.

In an interview with The Sun last June, Phillip said he would “die sorry” for his affair, but strongly denied there had been any abuse. power.

He added: “I am deeply sorry. There were accusations of all kinds. It was never perceived as an abuse of power, because we had become friends.”

“But of course I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but keeping in mind that I have never practiced this anywhere else.

“I feel a huge sense of guilt and regret. I made a mistake, I had an affair at work.”

He received a lot of support following the interview, with some feeling he had been treated too harshly.

In May, the father-of-two was pictured enjoying a night out with Declan Donnelly, sparking speculation he was set for a TV return.

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