Phillip Schofield has returned to TV following his departure from ITV’s This Morning last year. His latest TV appearance is on Channel 5’s Cast Away, where he will attempt to survive 10 days without food, water, or a camera crew. Reports had speculated whether he might make his return with an appearance on a reality competition series like ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which Schofield reportedly turned down.
Cast Away is a pre-recorded programme, already filmed, which gives Schofield and those around him control over the show and what headlines might be written about it. In contrast, taking part in a reality series as his first TV gig would have meant giving away a huge amount of control. Another reason for choosing Cast Away could be that Schofield sees Channel 5 as a possible future employer.
Cast Away’s format could also be beneficial to Schofield in terms of how his comeback narrative plays out. The series will see him try to survive in tough conditions, which can often be a good way for scandal-hit celebrities to endear themselves to the public and give the impression that they have undergone some kind of renewal. However, not everyone will welcome his comeback and many feel that he should have considered the power imbalance regarding his affair with a younger male colleague.
It’s also worth noting that Schofield has never been convicted of any crime. His affair was “unwise but not illegal,” as he has stated. Appearing on Cast Away means he can test how the show goes down with viewers without having to involve anybody else, which feeds into the narrative of renewal and redemption
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