Phillip Schofield is preparing to make a grand television return after a 16-month absence – and there’s one subject viewers will hope he touches on.
The previous This Morning presenter, 62, has secretly filmed Channel 5 sequence Solid Away, which required him to surrender his house comforts for 10 days of soul-searching on a tropical island within the Indian Ocean.
Phillip advised followers on Instagram on Wednesday that his episodes will start airing on Monday – and so they count on to listen to his warts and all reflections on the previous few years.
Since 1993, Phillip has been married to Stephanie Lowe, and the pair share two daughters: Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28.
In 2020, Phillip came out as gay, stunning the nation. Nonetheless, he and Stephanie stayed married – albeit separating later that 12 months.
Phillip Schofield, 62, is making ready to make a grand tv return after a 16-month absence – and there’s one subject viewers will hope he touches on
The previous This Morning presenter secretly filmed Channel 5 sequence Solid Away, which required him to surrender his house comforts for 10 days of soul-searching on a tropical island
Phillip advised followers on Instagram on Wednesday that his episodes will start airing on Monday – and so they count on to listen to his warts and all reflections on the previous few years
Stephanie poignantly advised The Sun on the time: ‘I’ll nonetheless be there, holding his hand. Everybody ought to be proud to reside their very own reality.
‘Our household have additionally been so supportive and can assist us going ahead. Though that is tough for us all, I assist Phillip in taking this courageous step.’
However, Stephanie’s world got here crashing down when, in Could 2023, it lastly grew to become public data that Phillip had conducted a years-long affair with a much-younger male ITV colleague.
Phil and Stephanie have reportedly by no means legally divorced with sources near the couple saying beforehand that she ‘nonetheless loves him’ deeply and can all the time stay in his ‘assist system’ with their daughters Molly and Ruby.
Phillip has not labored since he left This Morning in Could 2023 shortly earlier than the affair was revealed. His co-host and as soon as shut buddy, Holly Willoughby, later left herself, with Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard taking up their roles.
Phillip give up ITV totally after admitting he had lied to the Daily Mail about his the affair.
Associates of the star have been ‘fairly sure’ he would by no means work once more following his admission, however Channel 5 modified this.
One stated on the time: ‘Phillip has been very, very down not too long ago. He doesn’t understand how he’s going to work once more. It’s devastating for him to understand however he additionally is aware of that there’s not loads he can do about it. He doesn’t know who will take him. He is aware of there is no such thing as a approach again to ITV or the BBC.’
Since 1993, Phillip has been married to Stephanie Lowe , and the pair share two daughters: Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28 (all pictured in 2018)
In February 2020, Phillip got here out as homosexual, stunning the nation. Nonetheless, he and Stephanie stayed married – albeit separating later that 12 months (each pictured in January 2020)
Stephanie poignantly advised The Solar on the time: ‘I’ll nonetheless be there, holding his hand. Everybody ought to be proud to reside their very own reality (pictured in 2019)
However, Stephanie’s world got here crashing down when, in 2023, it lastly grew to become public data that Phillip had carried out a years-long affair with a much-younger male ITV colleague
Phillip infamously described the affair as ‘unwise however not unlawful’. He admitted he as soon as met the person at 15, however insisted they didn’t start a relationship until he was 20 (each pictured with Holly)
Sources near Schofield say that his pals try to encourage him to assume he can have a ‘fulfilling life’ away from showbusiness.
One stated: ‘Simply because he is probably not on telly once more doesn’t imply he can’t get pleasure from his life. Phil isn’t so positive although.’
Earlier than the Channel 5 gig, Phillip was tipped for a job on nationwide radio – his ‘old flame’ – with Britain’s largest business stations said to be jostling to bring him in to woo new listeners from rivals, together with BBC Radio 2.
An ITV report in December 2023 cleared bosses of a cover-up of the affair and did not mention any further damaging claims about Schofield’s relationship with a young runner on the show.
Regardless of claims of a ‘whitewash’, trade insiders advised MailOnline that it opens the door to the star getting a brand new big-money deal to return to work in 2024.
However a senior British broadcasting supply stated a return to TV for Mr Schofield is ‘unlikely – for now’.
He stated: ‘Now {that a} line has been drawn within the sand by ITV over the Schofield saga, consideration will transfer on.
‘Inside a time period there’s now a spot for Phillip to return, presumably not on TV but, however there are actually a myriad of alternatives for him on business radio the place he shall be supplied huge cash to return to his old flame.
Earlier than Channel 5, Phillip was tipped for a job on nationwide radio – his ‘old flame’ – with Britain’s largest business stations stated to be jostling to carry him in to woo new listeners from rivals
A senior British broadcasting supply stated a return to TV for Mr Schofield is ‘unlikely – for now’ however stated: ‘Inside a time period there’s now a spot for Phillip to return’
‘The KC’s report provides him a contemporary probability – however no person shall be stunned in any respect to see that ITV has discovered itself within the clear because it tries to save lots of This Morning’.
Neither Phillip nor his former companion spoke to Jane Mulcahy KC, whose report got here out in December.
Ms Mulcahy discovered that the unnamed runner’s promotion from This Morning to Unfastened Ladies ‘had nothing to do’ with Schofield and claimed that additionally ‘just one particular person’ interviewed had data of the affair however ‘didn’t report their data at time’.
Phillip began out in native radio in New Zealand as a teen earlier than becoming a member of the BBC, internet hosting a well-liked present on Radio 1 whereas presenting Going Stay.
It now stays to be seen whether or not Britain’s hottest stations, resembling Traditional FM, Magic, Virgin, Coronary heart or different giants now swoop. Best Hits Radio has additionally been on a hiring spree, grabbing huge names resembling Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo to take listeners from Radio 2.
However sources have stated Phillip may quickly be again in work.
Livid ITV workers blasted the exterior report into Schofield‘s affair with a youthful colleague as a ‘whitewash’.
One worker advised the Mail of their ‘sheer bewilderment’ that just one junior employee was conscious of the connection.
The report discovered that ITV didn’t cowl up the connection and that station bosses had made ‘considerable efforts’ to discover the truth in 2019 – 4 years earlier than the affair broke.
However, all is now effectively between Phillip and Stephanie (each pictured in November 2021)
In April of this 12 months, on Phillip’s 62nd birthday, the previous couple have been pictured with matching brown cockapoos ‘from the identical litter’ – simply days after their thirty first marriage ceremony anniversary
The exterior evaluate discovered that the channel was ‘unable to uncover the relevant evidence‘ till Phillip’s personal admission in Could when he advised the Mail that he had been having the connection and that he had later lied about it.
ITV bosses have stated each Phillip and his former lover, who has by no means been named publicly, ‘repeatedly denied’ allegations of a relationship till the star dramatically give up ITV and formally apologised.
It added that just one particular person out of 48 interviewed – a junior worker – stated they knew in regards to the presenter’s relationship with the youthful male former colleague earlier than he revealed it.
Ms Mulcahy revealed that Phillip refused to participate within the evaluate into the circumstances surrounding the his departure due to ‘the chance to his well being’. She added that she was knowledgeable that the host’s psychological well being had since deteriorated.
Phillip’s former colleague and lover additionally declined to take part within the report.
In April, Phillip and Stephanie have been pictured amicably carrying matching brown cockapoos ‘from the same litter’ on his 62nd birthday – just days after their 31st wedding anniversary.
It’s not identified in the event that they spent that big day collectively.
Associates of Phillip’s have stated not too long ago that he has been down and looking for ‘fulfilling’ methods to get pleasure from life away from broadcasting as a result of his profession and status has been tarnished.
And it seems he and his spouse could have determined to get a canine every to assist them by way of some powerful instances.
‘Stephanie has continued to assist her estranged husband – now they seem to each have new puppies from the identical litter’, one onlooker stated.