Phillip Schofield began his career in the 80s (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Phillip Schofield is reportedly making a huge TV return, 16 months after he finished working at This Morning.
The 62-year-old had been presenting the ITV daytime show for over 20 years when it was announced he would be stepping back from the position in May 2023.
At the time Schofield said: ‘I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.
‘Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind.’
Days later, he admitted to having an ‘unwise, but not illegal’ affair with a younger colleague on This Morning.
Schofield discussed his departure in a tell-all interview with the BBC, before stepping away from the spotlight for several months, but he’s now reportedly making a huge comeback.
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According to reports, the former Dancing On Ice star is returning in a Channel 5 reboot of Cast Away, where he will be marooned on an island off Madagascar for ten days.
A teaser for the show recently revealed an anonymous man traipsing the coast, with the tagline: ‘One celebrity on a desert island totally alone with one chance to finally tell his story.’
As he makes his TV return, let’s take a look back at Schofield’s career so far…
Phil stepped down from This Morning in May 2023 (Picture: Rex)
Phillip Schofield on Children’s TV
Schofield began his UK career on children’s TV in 1985. He’d previously worked in New Zealand on the youth music programme Shazam!
He stayed on CBBC for two years, presenting segments from the ‘broom cupboard’ before moving on to present Going Live! The compilation show included interviews with notable famous faces, music performances and regular gunges.
Schofield has credited his children’s TV beginnings as helping him gain important TV skills.
Schofield got his start on children’s TV (Picture: PA)
‘I had great fun in the Broom Cupboard, learning the skills of live TV. If you can introduce Newsround with a fluffy Gopher squeaking next to you, you can handle anything,’ he told ITV.
Phillip Schofield in Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat
In the final series of Going Live! Schofield left to take on the titular role in the West End’s Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. He took over in 1992 from Jason Donovan and remained in the production for five years.
Schofield played Joseph for five years (Picture: Getty Images)
Speaking to the Irish Independent he said: ‘It was such an extraordinary time of my life, it was a bizarre thing to even be asked to do because it was so far away from what I ever planned or thought about doing and the risks were enormous if I had got it wrong.’
Phillip Schofield’s This Morning debut
In 2002, Schofield took a seat on the sofa of This Morning with original co-host Fern Britton, taking over from John Leslie. Holly took the reins in 2009, and the pair became a loved duo.
Fern Britton was Schofield’s original This Morning co-host (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
He had a big personal moment on the show in 2020. After coming out as gay on Instagram he appeared on This Morning.
‘This is not something that’s happened quickly. I’ve had to deal with this in my head for quite some time. We’ve gone through this together, we’ve been honest and we’ve been open, and Steph [Lowe, Schofield’s wife], as I said… I can’t write in any statement what I feel about that woman,’ he shared.
‘She is amazing. She’s incredible. There is no one in my life who would have supported me, as a wife, the way she’s supported me. She’s astonishing, literally astonishing.’
Schofield then praised Holly, saying: ‘My friends are the best, especially Holly, who has been so kind and wise – and who has hugged me as I sobbed on her shoulder. At ITV, I couldn’t hope to work with more wonderful, supportive teams.’
In 2022, Schofield and Holly were at the centre of controversy when they were accused of ‘skipping’ the queue to see the Queen’s coffin lying in state.
They later addressed the backlash in a statement and stressed they had ‘respected’ the rules set for the media. Despite criticism from celebrities and fans alike, they went on to win another National Television Award.
ITV primetime shows with Phillip Schofield
Dancing on Ice came to our screens in 2006, and was the birthplace of the iconic partnership between Schofield and Holly.
Holly and Schofield also present Dancing on Ice together (Picture: PA)
She left briefly in 2011 and was replaced by Christine Lampard until 2014. When the show returned in 2018 following a brief hiatus Holly was back once more. She now presents the show with Stephen Mulhern.
In the same year that Dancing on Ice started, Schofield began hosting the British Soap Awards, which was taken over by Jane McDonald in 2023.
All-Star Mr & Mrs began in 2009 with Schofield and Fern at the helm. When his co-host left in 2010 he continued on his own for six years.
Schofield has fronted multiple ITV game shows (Picture: ITV)
From 2009 until 2015, he fronted The Cube – a game show where contestants complete challenges in a confined space for cash prizes.
There have been plenty of other shows in the same genre too including 5 Gold Rings from 2017, whereby hopefuls have to place a ring over what they think is the correct answer, but as the game progresses the ring gets smaller making it more difficult. The last series aired in 2020.
There was also a short run of You’re Back in the Room between 2015-2016, where contestants were hypnotised and then asked to complete straightforward tasks.
Phillip Schofield makes TV comeback, 16 months after exiting ITV
After remaining out of the spotlight, Schofield is returning to TV (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Schofield teased his return on Tuesday, saying a big announcement was on its way.
It was later revealed he’d reportedly filmed for the Cast Away reboot, with a source claiming it was the first thing he agreed to after turning down multiple offers over the past few months but had ‘steadfastly turned them all down’.
‘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,’ the source told The Sun.
They continued: ‘After 42 years on telly, Phillip has learnt from some great crews and teams on how to film and tell a story.’
The course said viewers can expect ‘tough, emotional viewing’ and ‘another side to him’ that is ‘unedited and honest’.
They also confirmed he was still feeling ‘bruised’ and in no rush to return to TV ‘full-time’ just yet.
Before this, after reports emerged he’d be returning to screens, Schofield was rumoured to be on I’m A Celebrity 2024 and Celebrity Big Brother, which saw his co-star Fern appear on last year.
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