Phillip Schofield is set to make his long-awaited return to television next week, 16 months after stepping down from his role as host of This Morning.
The three-part series will follow the 62-year-old presenter as he spends ten days and nine nights in the wilderness off the coast of Madagascar, filming himself with several different cameras as he documents his experience. The show also is a chance for the TV personality to reflect on the last 18 years, after leaving his role after it was discovered that he had an affair with a younger colleague which he described at the time as "unwise but not illegal".
Speaking about the show, which will air on Channel 5, Phillip said: "This is most definitely a first for me and the only thing I felt compelled to do. It appealed to me on so many levels. I’ve recently had a lot of time to think about my life, what went right and what went wrong, but I’ve always had the safe arms of friends and family wrapped around me.
"This time it’s just me, no ‘phone, no comforts, no crew and only lip balm as a luxury. I’m looking forward to exploring the island, trying to tie knots to secure my shelter and foraging and fending for myself in the wild … with no help. Maybe I’ll be Robinson Crusoe, or maybe I’ll just be Tom Hank’s Wilson and quietly drift off into the wild blue yonder!!"
So what can we expect from the show? Described as a "physical and mental challenge," Phillip is expecting to deal with the challenges of the complete isolation of being totally alone on the island, as well as griping with the forcs of nature while delving into his own life and journey up until this moment.
The news comes just after Phillip teased fans with a cryptic Instagram story post on Tuesday, where he wrote: “Watch this space… 9am,” hinting at an announcement.
Guy Davies, Channel 5's commissioning editor, added: "This isn’t just a survival challenge, it’s chance for Phillip to look back over the last explosive 18 months of his life, and explore what happened. The audience will learn how he feels now about television and the future, as well as the past. And it will be Phillip Schofield as we have never seen him before – unguarded, emotional and brutally honest."
Phillip’s return marks his first major appearance on television since he exited This Morning in May 2023, after more than two decades as one of the show’s most recognisable faces. His departure followed the revelation of an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague, which rocked both the public and media alike.
In a statement at the time, Phillip expressed deep regret for his actions, admitting he had misled his employers at ITV, his colleagues, and the public.
“I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public, and most importantly of all, to my family,” he said. “I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.”
The upcoming Channel 5 series is expected to be an emotional and introspective journey, as Phillip confronts the challenges of the past two years, including the fallout from his personal life and the public scrutiny that followed. After a long break from public life, he has since returned to social media and has been spotted out with his family and his pet dog.
When is it being released?
The show will air on Channel 5 from Monday 30 September - so fans won't have long to wait.
Is the show safe?
Channel 5 has confirmed that Phillip was totally alone during the filming of the show, but the production team were situated 30 minutes offshare in order to intervene for any major emergencies, while also monitoring Phillip's mental and physical health and safety through the experience. Will you be watching?
Phillip Schofield: Cast Away airing Monday 30 September at 9pm on Channel 5