Phillip Schofield has made it clear that he harbours no affection for ITV in his new show, declaring he would never work there again.
Before jetting off to a tropical island off the coast of Madagascar, rumours were swirling that he was being tipped for I’m A Celebrity on ITV, where he used to be employed. However, Schofield stated: “Although my best mates host it (Ant and Dec), there are some channels you just won’t work for. There are some people you won’t work for.”
Schofield’s tenure on This Morning came to an “abrupt end”. However, it was Schofield himself who released the statement confirming his departure from ITV, following his affair.
On May 26 last year, Schofield confessed in a statement: “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. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.”
He added: “I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it,” reports the Mirror.
In the debut of his Cast Away show, Schofield takes a moment to seemingly jab at former colleague Holly Willoughby. While enjoying a barbecue with his wife and daughters, he remarks with a knowing look: “If you’re okay, then we’re okay and I’m okay. Are you okay?”
It’s not the only instance in the first episode where he appears to take a swipe at his previous employers and potentially other presenters like Holly. Chomping on some fruit, he quips: “It’s going through an angry bitter stage… like some television presenters haha.”
However, one star Schofield holds in high regard is Dame Joanna Lumley, who expresses her “love” and support for him in a video message as he embarks on his Channel 5 survival adventure.
The esteemed actress, known for her role in Absolutely Fabulous and her own castaway experience in the BBC’s Girl Friday, offers Schofield advice: “Listen, Phil these are the tips I’ve got, keep your knives sharp, spend much of the day trying to find wood otherwise you won’t be able to eat anything.”
She explained: “When I was on the island I made a pair of shoes out of my bra… and I would love to think that you could do something a bit challenging, and bring it back so we could all look at it…
“I shall be thinking of you all the time Phil, and actually I’m a little bit jealous, lots of love,” signed off the much-loved actress. Schofield, 62, responded with warmth: “Oh you darling, thank you so much, that’s amazing.”
When Dame Joanna Lumley previously penned a letter to comedian Ruby Wax during her solitary stint for 10 days on an island in the Indian Ocean, where she had to record her experiences using body and handheld cameras, it was for the first series of the show.
Phillip Schofield is set to face a similar ordeal in the upcoming three-part series, Phillip Schofield: Cast Away, which will see the well-known presenter put to the test as he attempts to fend for himself, seeking food and shelter.
Phillip Schofield: Cast Away begins at 9pm on Monday on Channel 5, and will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday at the same time.