Phillip Schofield’s Cast Away LIVE: Shamed star opens up on This Morning axe as he goes skinny dipping
PHILLIP Schofield has returned to TV, 16 months after he was fired from This Morning over what he called an “unwise, but not illegal” affair.
The 62-year-old, who stopped presenting the ITV daytime show in May 2023 after 21 years, is appearing on the Channel 5 special Cast Away, which follows a celebrity stranded on an island off the coast of Madagascar for 10 days.
During the final episode, Phillip said goodbye to the island but not before opening up about the moment he was sacked from ITV.
Phil said he had "written a list of everyone who was toxic” and burnt it on a fire.
Viewers also watched as the former This Morning star stripped completely naked and jumped in the sea.
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Phillip Schofield burns list of 'toxic people'
In last night’s final episode of Cast Away, Phillip Schofield symbolically burned a list of "toxic people," marking a turning point as he vowed to move forward with his life following the This Morning scandal.
Sitting on the sand in front of a huge bonfire, Phillip can be heard saying: “You shed all sorts of skins through your life.
“There are things that didn’t work out, there are people who you’d hoped would be around, and then they’re not and you shed that skin.”
He went on: “There’s something that I’ve done here that I haven’t shared with you yet, now’s the time” as he pulled out a notebook.
Phillip spoke directly to the camera, and said: “Over the course of my ten days, I have written down all the things and all the people who were and are toxic in my life.
“And so I have that now,” Phil says as he scrunches a piece of paper in his hand.
He throws it into the fire as he tells the camera: “And now the toxic bank is empty.”
Phillip Schofield blames brother for ITV ‘dismissal’
Phillip Schofield has been accused of lying about being sacked by ITV during his new TV series, Cast Away.
In the three-episode show, which concludes tonight, Schofield claims his brother was the reason he was “fired” from his high-profile roles on This Morning and Dancing on Ice.
His brother, Timothy Schofield, was convicted in April 2023 of 11 sexual offences involving a child, including emotionally blackmailing the victim into sex acts.
However, according to , ITV insiders are highly refuting the claims, saying: “Phillip’s new comments are simply untrue, heis lying again.”
Instead, they claim he quit when the fallout of the conviction – combined with his “unwise but not illegal” affair with a 19-year-old runner on This Morning – became too much.
Schofield recalls agent telling him he was let go
Phillip Schofield has opened up about the moment his agent informed him that he had been "let go" from This Morning.
Before admitting to his affair with a young runner on the show, Schofield claims his dismissal was tied to the negative publicity surrounding his brother's trial.
He said: "That's it, it's done. You're not going back on Monday. What? Because of what?
"I think it's the publicity though. That's got nothing to do with me. That has nothing to do with me. Why would I be sacked for something that somebody else did?
"I've just been fired. Because of him. Because I was becoming more of a story than the programme. It was better for the show, better for the channel.
"And I agreed to say that I'd resigned because... It would be neater for everybody. I was always open and honest with everyone at work about what was happening with my brother.
I was fired for the bad publicity. For someone else's crime."
However, an ITV insider this week rubbished Phil's claims and branded him a 'liar'.
‘When times are tough, I will be back here’
Phil shared: “The most important thing I want anyone to take away is, would be to say, ‘OK that’s the guy he is, that’s what he’s like,’
“This is the person my family see. This is who I am.
“I always said even before the world fell apart, life is full of moments, enjoy the moments.
“I’ve had 10 days of unbelievable moments right there.”
Credit: Unpixs Baring all
In his final moments on the island, Phil stripped completely naked and jumped into the sea.
He said: “The next scene I will shoot, but I need approval, explicit approval.”
He was then seen running towards the sea completely starkers!
Schofield threatens to expose former co-workers
Phillip Schofield has hinted at exposing his former colleagues, claiming he was “thrown under the bus.”
In the second episode of Cast Away, Schofield spoke candidly to the camera: “People just went, who I thought were my friends and they just went and that’s like ‘what the hell’.”
He added, “I have been chucked under a bus, and I could drive the same bus over so many people but I’m not that sort of person, I never have been.”
However, he teased, “But if I sit down with a camera and the light’s going, who knows what I’ll say.”
In pictures - Cast Away
Credit: channel 5 
Credit: Unpixs 
Credit: Channel 5 Kerry Katona dishes on Schofield’s return
Kerry Katona didn’t mince words about Schofield’s comeback attempt, criticising the “tone-deaf” presenter and suggesting he could end up on Celebrity Big Brother.
In her , Kerry wrote: “If I’m honest, I think it’s a really self-indulgent move to have him alone on a desert island, playing the pity card,” she said.
“He talks about living with absolutely nothing on this island, but then he goes back to his big house, wealth and home comforts. I think it’s really tone-deaf.”
However she added she was “obviously going to watch” the show, and hoped to be cast on Celebrity Big Brother alongside him.
“Big Brother, if you’re casting, please put us in – I’d be brutally honest with him,” she added.
Holly snub’s Phil’s big return
Holly Willoughby chose a night out in London over supporting her former This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield when he returned to television this week.
While Schofield’s highly anticipated comeback aired, Holly appeared eager to share her excitement about the Abigail’s Party show at the Theatre Royal in Stratford.
She posted a photo of the venue’s exterior, lit up with neon lights, clearly enjoying the evening — and making no attempt to hide the fact that she was out and about while the first episode of Phil’s return aired on TV.
' I wasn't fired from This Morning when I admitted lying, it was before'
Phil revealed that he was fired a week before he revealed his affair.
He said on the final episode of Channel 5's Castaway: "About a week later, I blew my own wheels off. I thought the only way to begin to put this right for everybody, is to do a full mea culpa."
Phil admitted that he "came clean about his affair" but said: "What people don't realise is, I wasn't fired from This Morning when I admitted lying, it was before, because of someone I used to call brother."
Phillip Schofield’s daughter defends him from trolls
Phillip Schofield’s daughter, Molly, who rarely appears in the public eye, has hit back at cruel trolls following his television comeback in Cast Away.
Former This Morning host Phil shares daughters Molly and Ruby with ex-wife Stephanie Lowe, and the three women appeared on the show for a goodbye dinner before he headed off.
After the first episode of Cast Away aired, Molly was forced to take to social media to slam cruel trolls.
She reposted a comment which read: “So if she’s so proud of him why does she use her mother’s name and go by Molly Lowe?”
Molly fired back: “I’m Molly Schofield… and proud to be.” She added a middle finger emoji to drive her point home.
Phillip Schofield opens up over his ITV departure
Phillip Schofield has vowed never to return to daytime television after saying he was “axed” from This Morning, rather than quitting.
Last year Phil admitted to an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a young runner on This Morning.
His deceit subsequently led to his departure from the show he had fronted with Holly Willoughby, before eventually quitting ITV altogether.
Speaking on Cast Away, he said: “Look, I love telly. I’ve got telly in my bones.
“But I won’t sit on a sofa again. I’m not going to do that again.
“And there are some people I won’t work for again. Some people I won’t work with again.
“I’ve been hurt so badly by that sort of telly that you get to the point where you think ‘I don’t want to do it anymore’.”
Phillip Schofield blames brother for ITV ‘dismissal’
Phillip Schofield has been accused of lying about being sacked by ITV during his new TV series, Cast Away.
In the three-episode show, which concludes tonight, Schofield claims his brother was the reason he was “fired” from his high-profile roles on This Morning and Dancing on Ice.
His brother, Timothy Schofield, was convicted in April 2023 of 11 sexual offences involving a child, including emotionally blackmailing the victim into sex acts.
However, according to , ITV insiders are highly refuting the claims, saying: “Phillip’s new comments are simply untrue, heis lying again.”
Instead, they claim he quit when the fallout of the conviction – combined with his “unwise but not illegal” affair with a 19-year-old runner on This Morning – became too much.
‘Coming out as gay brought more anguish than joy’
“Freedom on a plate”. That is how Phillip Schofield described coming out as gay.
However, he says it has also brought him “more anguish than joy”.
His daughter admits it was a tough time but that ultimately, it has brought them closer together.
She has even described Phil and his wife Stephanie as “best friends”.
Baring all
In his final moments on the island, Phil strips completely naked and jumps in the sea.
He says: "The next scene I will shoot, but I need approval, explicit approval."
He is then seen running towards the sea completely starkers!
Finding a way forward
After spending 24 hours alone for four days.
Phil has been tested to "unimaginable lengths" and his "solitude has opened old wounds"
But Phil admits being alone has given him the "clarity" he has been seeking.
Contemplation time
An emotional Phil ponders on life in and out of the island.
He admits he's been forced to "evaluate" his life recently and to "pick himself up".
He said: "These things are unexpected turns, they come out of the blue and I'm used to that.
"You have a disappointment, you have a think and you re-evaluate.
"Okay, I've had my down moment...pick yourself up."
Phil issues a defiant message, saying he "will find a way".
The star adds: "I will not be defeated."
The moment Phil was sacked
Phillip recalled the exact moment his agent rang to tell him he had been 'sacked' from This Morning
"Everything came to a head the day before he was sentenced, my phone rang and I picked it up," Phil said.
"'Mate are you somewhere quiet?', which is never a good sign."
Phil was then told that he was let go from This Morning.
He added: "Why would I be sacked for something that someone else did. I had just been fired because of him.
"I was becoming more of a story than the programme. It was better for the show, better for the programme."
36 hours later
Phil is reunited with his family and his dog.
His daughter Molly shares her pride saying: "I'm so "incredibly proud seeing how far he has come".
'I will never go back to daytime telly'
Phil confessed he won't be returning to daytime telly.
He said: "I'm not saying I'm done, but never in a million years will I go back to daytime telly. I've lived a hundred TV lives and what a way to say 'thank you very much indeed, I've absolutely loved it'.
Phil reveals he has 'nothing' planned for the future
A producer asked the star: "What's next?"
Phil replied: "Nothing. Nothing. I'm happy with nothing.
"I've got family and friends and a dog.
"This is my new happy place."
'When times are tough, I will be back here'
Phil shares: "The most important thing I want anyone to take away is, would be to say, 'OK that's the guy he is, that's what he's like,'
"This is the person my family see. This is who I am.
"I always said even before the world fell apart, life is full of moments, enjoy the moments.
"I've had 10 days of unbelievable moments right there."
Phil gets a gift
The crew arrive on the island and has a special gift for Phil...
A paddle!
"That is the most special special present, if I lose all of my luggage, I just want that," Phil beams
Goodbye to island life
Phil said he's excited to be reunited with his family, but is feeling "nervous" to return to normal life.
"Every moment has been so deeply, deeply personal," Phil shares.
Baring all
In his final moments on the island, Phil strips completely naked and jumps in the sea.
He says: "The next scene I will shoot, but I need approval, explicit approval."
He is then seen running towards the sea completely starkers!