Phillip Schofield has revealed that despite earlier reports indicating he “resigned” from ITV’s This Morning, he was actually “fired”.
The TV presenter, known for his long-time role on the show alongside Holly Willoughby, departed following revelations of an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague.
Now part of Channel 5’s Cast Away, when addressed about the potential of quitting the show, Schofield stated, “It’s inconceivable that I would quit. I don’t quit. I’m fired, but I don’t quit.”
Discussing the survival challenge itself where he is stranded on an island off Madagascar for 10 days, he expressed, “I’ll be alone for 10 solitary nights. God help me. That is the wildest feeling. S*** just got real.”
Moreover, Schofield dismissed rumours that he might participate in ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, reports the Express, saying “I’m apparently four to one [odds] to do the other jungle programme. Now, although my best mates host it, there are some channels you just won’t work for,” and, “There are just some people you won’t work for.”
In upcoming episodes of Cast Away, according to The Guardian, Schofield attributes his firing to his brother Timothy’s conviction for 11 sexual offences.
In the show’s final episode, he clarifies, “I had to go through everything with the hierarchy at ITV. The full entire story so that they knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. The full story.”
But he recounted that his agent delivered the blunt news before his brother’s sentencing: “It’s done. You’re not going back on Monday” attributing it to the “publicity” the case attracted. Explaining his open approach, he says, “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.”
Phillip also disclosed his subsequent personal misstep: “And the thing is about a week later, I blew my own wheels off with everything else [his affair], because I thought the only way to even begin to put this right for everybody is to do a full mea culpa.”
Detailing the severity of the connected case, Timothy was found guilty last April of committing 11 sexual offences involving a child over a period extending from October 2016 to October 2019, including two counts of sexual activity with a child.
A statement from Phil at the time read: “Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind. I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love.
“So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me – especially This Morning’s amazing viewers – and I’ll see you all for the Soap Awards next month.”