Phillip Schofield smiling at the Soap Awards and on new Channel 5 show
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Phillip Schofield announces TV comeback with new ‘unbelievably raw’ Channel 5 show

Phil has been away from TV for over a year

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Phillip Schofield has announced his TV comeback as he’s set for a “raw” return to our screens.

The star, 62, left ITV and This Morning last year after admitting to having an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger colleague.

He’s been away from screens since. But now, Phil will return for a Channel 5 show called Cast Away.

Phillip Schofield smiling at the TRIC Awards
Phil has announced his return to TV today (Credit: Cover Images)

Phillip Schofield comeback

In an announcement on Instagram on Wednesday morning, Phil shared a photo of himself looking dishevelled whilst on a beach.

This is most definitely a first for me and the only thing I felt compelled to do.

He wrote: “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.

“Cast Away starts Monday on @channel5_tv & My5 at 9pm.”

Phillip Schofield sat on an island for new Channel 5 show
Phil’s new show will provide “emotional viewing” (Credit: Channel 5)

What Phil has said

Meanwhile, in a statement, Phil 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!!”

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby hosting This Morning
It’s Phil’s first TV gig since he left ITV last year (Credit: ITV)

Phillip Schofield new show

Channel 5 Commissioning Editor, Guy Davies, 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…”

In addition, Executive Producer and MD at Burning Bright Productions, Clive Tulloh, said: “We are very excited about this powerful and emotional series. It is much watch TV. It gives a whole new meaning to survival.”

The three-part series will air across three nights from Monday, September 30. It will follow Phil as he’s cast away for 10 days and nine nights on a remote, unpopulated island off the coast of Madagascar.

Phillip Schofield sat on an island for new Channel 5 show
Phil’s new show will begin this weekend (Credit: Channel 5)

First look at Cast Away

In a trailer for the series, Phil appears to become upset as he discusses his affair scandal.

He says in the first look: “I’ve been cast away on a desert island, completely on my own.”

Phillip is seen on the island with a fire lit in the background. He continues: “All I have is camera gear and I can say whatever I want about whatever I want. It’s my chance to tell my side of my story.”

He then exclaims in another clip in the trailer: “I know what I did was unwise. But is it enough to absolutely destroy someone?”

In the next clip, Phil is seen with his hand over his mouth as he appears to become tearful.

Phillip Schofield smiling at movie premiere
Phillip has said he spent his summer “alone for 10 days, no food, no water, no crew” on an island (Credit: Cover Images)

Cast Away on Channel 5

Meanwhile, Channel 5 has described the show as an “authentic and intense physical and mental challenge”. He will only have a handful of cameras to document his experience.

The broadcaster also said Phil will “confront the challenges of total isolation” and have time to “battle within his own mind as he explores his own controversial story”.

The production team will be stationed 30 minutes offshore, only to intervene in the event of an extreme emergency.

Meanwhile, a source has told The Sun: “He shot some unbelievably raw footage – some of it makes for tough, emotional viewing.”

Read more: Phillip Schofield looks happier than ever in new photo as he takes on hobby after ITV axe

Phillip Schofield: Cast Away will air Monday September 30 at 9pm on Channel 5.

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Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)