Phillip Schofield has remained largely out of the spotlight ever since his dramatic exit from This Morning 16 months ago, following revelations of a ‘wilful but not illegal’ affair with a much younger show runner that sent shockwaves through the industry.
Phillip Schofield’s Road to Redemption: From Silence to Survival
After his headline-making departure from This Morning nearly two years ago, Phillip Schofield has kept largely under the radar. The fallout from his admission of an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger runner left the veteran presenter, now 62, reeling—and his long-time ITV colleague Lorraine Kelly, 64, heartbroken.
In the aftermath, Phillip vanished from the spotlight, declaring his career was “finished.” But now, he’s rewriting his narrative.
Making a bold return, Schofield took on a daring new project with Channel 5 titled Cast Away, where he endured 10 days alone on a remote desert island—no food, no water, and no crew. Reflecting on the experience, he shared on Instagram:
“Now you know how I spent my summer! Alone for 10 days, no food, no water, no crew. My story of survival, both on a desert island and off it.”
Comments were turned off, leaving fans unable to weigh in on his dramatic comeback. Still, one close friend has spoken up in support, saying, “He’s doing all right—and he will be all right.”
Lorraine Kelly Breaks Her Silence on Phillip Schofield: “It’s Just a Shame…”
Phillip Schofield made a quiet yet bold return to screens last year with Castaway on Channel 5 (Image: Channel 5), following his high-profile departure from This Morning. And now, one of his closest allies in the industry, Lorraine Kelly, is speaking out about the turmoil he’s faced since.
In a heartfelt interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, the beloved Scottish presenter didn’t hold back, admitting:
“I was heartbroken when all that happened. It’s just a shame for the amazing career that he’s had, for it to end like that.”
Lorraine, 64, acknowledged the emotional toll the scandal took on Phil’s life, describing it simply as “hard.” She also weighed in on the harsh realities of cancel culture, calling it “very sad and quite depressing,” and pointing out how some in the entertainment world seem to relish watching others fall from grace.
Despite the controversy, Lorraine praised Schofield as “generous”—a quality she says is rare among men in showbiz—and suggested that “everybody lost their minds a wee bit” during the height of the backlash.
Since stepping down from This Morning in May 2022, Phillip, 62, has largely kept out of the public eye, making just one low-key appearance last August, dining quietly with close friend Vanessa Feltz.
“I Couldn’t Leave the House”: Phillip Schofield Opens Up About His Mental Health Struggles
In the wake of his headline-making confession, Phillip Schofield revealed the devastating toll the ordeal took on his mental health. Speaking candidly to The Sun, the former This Morning presenter admitted he was gripped by fear at the thought of stepping outside, describing the experience as having a “catastrophic effect” on his emotional well-being.
In a raw and vulnerable BBC interview—where he was visibly shaken and seen vaping nervously—Schofield shared just how deeply the crisis impacted his personal life. He revealed that his daughters were so worried about him, they “wouldn’t let him out of their sight.”
Holly and Phillip: A Rift, a Retreat, and a Return to the Spotlight
After a seven-month disappearance from the public eye, Phillip Schofield made a quietly dramatic return—one no one quite saw coming. In a bold move, Channel 5 entrusted him with a brand-new show that pushed him to his limits: Castaway, a raw, reflective survival series that saw him marooned on a remote Madagascan island for 10 solitary days.
Stripped of luxuries, company, and even a crew, Phillip faced the elements with only a handful of cameras to capture the experience. According to a Channel 5 spokesperson, the extreme isolation served as a mirror for Phillip—not just testing his physical and mental endurance, but offering him a rare chance to confront the personal storm he’s been weathering since his fall from grace.
Billed as both a survival challenge and a deeply personal reckoning, the show drew mixed reactions from audiences and critics alike. And after the brief return to screens, Phillip once again retreated from the limelight—his future in television still uncertain.