Phillip Schofield makes a dramatic return to TV after secretly filming a new show on a remote island – 16 months after off-screen affair led to ITV axe

Phillip Schofield is returning to to mainstream TV after signing up for a new show – 16-months after his departure from This Morning. 

The presenter has secretly filmed Channel 5 special Cast Away, in which he lives on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean for 10 days. 

Schofield, 62, will discuss his acrimonious departure from ITV while fending for himself on the island, located off the coast of Madagascar. 

Viewers will see the axed presenter discuss the emotional impact of his exile from mainstream TV after news of his affair with a 20-year old runner on daytime show This Morning came to light.  

A source told The Sun: ‘Over the past few months Phil has had quite a few offers for various things – but has steadfastly turned them all down.

Phillip Schofield is returning to to mainstream TV after signing up for a new show – 16-months after his departure from This Morning

The presenter has secretly filmed Channel 5 special Cast Away, in which he lives on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean for 10 days

‘This sort of challenge has always appealed to him though and after consulting with friends and family, he decided to go for it. It’s all been top secret, and 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 on how to film and tell a story.’ 

The source added: ‘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 three-part series will air on Channel 5 from Monday evening and will be Schofield’s first TV work since leaving This Morning under a cloud in 2023.  

It was May 2023 when the presenter admitted to having a relationship with a much younger male colleague on This Morning, and later lying about it.

He described their romance as ‘unwise but not illegal’ and explained it took place during his nearly 30-year marriage to Stephanie Lowe, with whom he is a parent to two children. 

Schofield subsequently resigned from both This Morning and ITV and said that he was ‘so very sorry’ to Lowe for being unfaithful.

At the time, it was reported that Steph had been left ‘devastated’ by the revelation and angry that her husband had lied to her.

However, it was later revealed she is choosing not to file for divorce because she does not want him to ‘fall any further’ then he already has, and despite everything, ‘the love is still very much there.’

As well as the breakdown of his marriage, Schofield’s relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby faltered in the midst of the scandal, with it being heavily reported that the two were at loggerheads.

Schofield’s daughter Molly is now his publicist after she quit the talent agency that once represented her father.

PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year away to disappear and get himself together.

Calling him a rare talent, Borkowski said: ‘He’s testing the waters. But audiences are very forgiving.’

Schofield told the BBC in an emotional interview last June the affair had finished his career and revealed that the fallout had left him feeling suicidal.

He told how his two daughters – Molly and Ruby – had saved his life and had ‘guarded me and won’t let me out of their sight’.

He admitted during the sit-down interview with Amol Rajan denied he had groomed the younger colleague, before telling critics: ‘Do you want me to die? Because that’s where I am.’