Phillip Schofield has revealed deep disillusionment with a television career after a profound treachery from his co-workers, expressing his reluctance to return to daytime TV presenting. The former ‘This Morning’ host (age 62), will soon be back on screen in the Channel 5 series, ‘Phillip Schofield: Cast Away.’ It marks his first television series since leaving ITV in May 2023 after confessing to a controversial, yet not unlawful, affair with a younger male colleague.
Schofield resigned more than a year ago, refuting allegations of being coerced out of the popular ITV daytime show. He expressed deep remorse for deceiving ITV, his co-workers, his wife, and his friends. However, Schofield alleges, while filming on the small island of Nosy Ankarea, just off the Madagascan coast, he was thrown under the bus by his fellow presenters, a move he said he could replicate but chooses not to, as he is a different kind of person.
In the forthcoming series’ second episode, the veteran presenter confesses he predicted he would die live on television at 93 but now wants to withdraw from such on-screen activity due to the deep pain caused by his role as a presenter and his relationships within the television industry.
Starting his broadcast career as a young booking clerk at 19 at the BBC, Schofield reminisced about visiting the Television Centre, which later became the filming location for ITV’s ‘This Morning’. He has fond memories of the place and loved being there. However, following the scandal that erupted around him, his affection for the building subsided. The once cherished memories soured, turning the place into an unwelcoming environment. This transformation, he found deeply saddening, and he points out the culprits of his anguish are fully aware of the emotional attachment he had to the location.
“He is aware that in order to backstab someone, there needs to be an extremely convincing motivation, and self-interest or yearning for success doesn’t make the cut. He added that people can act superficially friendly when things are going smoothly but can swiftly turn to absolute betrayal.
He reflected that there would be no fuss if he wasn’t homosexual. He speculated that having an affair with a woman would result in reaffirmation from others. Schofield stated, “A few other TV show hosts might have done the same thing – the only variation here is my sexuality. There’s no rarity in age disparity in the gay community.”
Referring to allegations of a toxic atmosphere on ‘This Morning’, the ex-anchor mentioned learning about these claims after leaving the show and pinpointed three individuals he was ‘conscious of’. Following the commotion caused by Schofield publicly declaring his relationship with a younger male colleague, former ‘This Morning’ physician, Dr Ranj Singh, criticised the toxic environment of the show.
Dr Singh alleged that he brought up issues of ‘harassment and prejudice’ during his tenure at ITV and subsequently felt that he was ‘pushed out’ for exposing the truth. Schofield denied any toxicity on the set during his run and stated that his accusations were mainly about a ‘particular group of people harboring resentment against him or the show who just happened to have the most powerful voice.’
During the second episode of the Channel 5 programme, he tackled the allegations once again, initially dismissing them as ‘absolute nonsense’ before conceding that there was no toxicity while he was employed. “It came to light after I left that there might be a handful of people who could be a bit toxic,” he admitted.
He conceded his obliviousness to the toxicity, explaining how being in the television business shields you from such issues and people refrain from sharing such information. Schofield later applauded the wonderful individuals in the morning TV industry, before verbally attacking three people he disliked. He accused two of them of being cowardly – one for not supporting him during ‘queuegate’, and the other for not ‘taking action’ in an unspecified situation.”
The concluding individual, he remarked, was exclusively focused on branding. Schofield found himself and then co-presenter Holly Willoughby in hot water due to allegations that the pair bypassed the line to attend the lying in state of the late queen, Elizabeth II. The duo were defended by ITV’s chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall, who emphasised that their attendance was in their capacity as media personalities, covering a segment for the morning show ‘This Morning’.
On the sixth day, Schofield accepts the task of scaling the local mountain on the island and muses over life beyond television. A previously recorded video shows Schofield suggesting the need to explore different avenues, questioning the trajectory of an untrodden path because his previous path no longer remains an option.
Upon reaching the peak, he quotes a verse from Emily Perl Kingsley’s poem ‘Welcome to Holland’, a metaphorical piece shared by his therapist. It explores the idea of life leading you towards unexpected destinations instead of where you originally planned.
While taking in the scenery, Schofield comments, “Holland with its delightful inhabitants…it is unexpected, but it’s invigorating and rewards you with moments like these.”/
Phillip Schofield’s new programme, ‘Cast Away’, is scheduled for broadcast at 9pm on Monday on Channel 5, continuing at the same time on Tuesday and Wednesday. ITV has been approached for a response – PA.