Phillip Schofield explains why he wouldn't do ITV's I'm A Celebrity

What did you miss?

Phillip Schofield explained why he wouldn't do I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! as his own jungle survival show got under way.

The presenter is making his return to TV in Cast Away after last year’s scandal, which saw him leaving This Morning and admitting to having what he said was an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague at ITV. Cast Away sees him alone on an island off the coast of Madagascar for 10 days, with nothing to do but find food, water and shelter and reflect.

There have been rumours about Schofield, 62, signing up for Ant and Dec's jungle show. However, he addressed it on Cast Away, saying that while the duo were his "best mates", there "are some channels you just won't work for".

What, how and why?

The Channel 5 series sees Schofield being interviewed before going on his travels, with snippets spliced with his time on the island. During episode one, he said he had read the rumours about him heading Down Under for the ITV jungle show.

However, he insisted: "I am apparently 4/1 to do the other jungle programme. Although my best mates host it (Ant and Dec), there are some channels you just won't work for. There are just some people you won't work for."

Star said things got 'dark' amid the scandal

Schofield, who shares daughters Molly and Ruby with Stephanie Lowe, also opened up about how low he was amid the scandal, which he has said in the past cost him his television career.

"In the last eighteen months, it got as dark as it is possible to get," he said. "A year ago I got so, so close. I had everything in place, everything was set up and everything was ready and it was Molly that was looking after me."

He went on: "Molly and Ruby were both looking after me at the time, and Molly said, 'Do you imagine what this would do to us... Can you imagine what would happen and can you imagine what it would do to me if you did this on my watch?'

"That was just enough, just enough to take a step back from the edge... I just raced to the family home and shut the gates and I was in there."

Phillip Schofield said coming out caused 'anguish'

Schofield also addressed coming out as gay in 2020. He opened up about his sexuality on Instagram, before discussing it on This Morning with TV star Holly Willoughby, who he used to co-host with.

"I know that coming out for so many people is liberating, and it's freedom on a plate, absolutely be yourself, live your life to the absolute full," he said. "That's the saying, just live your best life.

"But for me, doing it later in life, at the moment it's just given me more anguish than joy. I'm fully aware of the damage that it leaves. I still have the love of my family, never wavered."

What did viewers say about Cast Away?

Viewers were divided over Schofield's TV comeback, with some seemingly confused by the purpose of the show. "What’s he trying to achieve here?"one asked on X, as another person called it a "vanity project".

"I'm sorry but I don't think Schofield is doing himself any favours here," said another viewer. "Too much feeling sorry for himself about losing his job. Enough already, change the subject."

Read more: Cast Away

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However, others enjoyed it and suggested Schofield deserved to be able to tell his own story. "Loved it - the haters will always hate but let he who is without sin cast the first stone," said one. "Of course no-one will come forward as no one is perfect."

Another said: "He's not a monster, he deserves to live his life after all the venom. I'm actually enjoying watching Cast Away. Good for you @Schofe."

Another said that they "support his decision to tell his side of the story".

Cast Away is streaming via Channel 5.

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