As Phillip Schofield gears up to make his TV return following his This Morning exit, the former ITV presenter has given fans a look at his intense workout routine
Phillip Schofield faces struggle in Cast Away Channel 5 teaser
TV presenter Phillip Schofield has given his fans a glimpse at his workout routine – and “twiglet legs” – ahead of his big TV comeback next week.
The broadcaster is set to appear on new Channel 5 series Cast Away, marking his first appearance since his departure from ITV’s This Morning in May 2023. The star exited the popular show amidst revelations of a relationship with a much younger male colleague.
Taking to Instagram Stories on Friday, the former ITV favourite shared a snap of himself lifting some weights in a pair of white shorts and a black T-shirt. “Leg day,” Schofield captioned the snap. “Putting back the 6kg I lost on the island with muscle… not carbs. #twiglets.”
Schofield’s return to frequent social media posting comes as he seemingly launches a bid to return to the spotlights after 16-months in the showbiz wilderness. On Wednesday, the dad-of-two shared a trailer for his upcoming TV gig and told his Instagram followers: “Now you know how I spent my Summer! Alone for 10 days, no food, no water, no crew. My story of survival, both on a desert island and off it. Cast Away starts Monday on @channel5_tv & My5 at 9pm.”
The three-part special, ‘Phillip Schofield: Cast Away’, will document the TV icon’s solitary struggle for survival on a deserted island near Madagascar, marking his comeback after nearly two years away from the spotlight. The 62 year old star made headlines when he stepped back from his high-profile gigs, including his role at This Morning, after confessing to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague in 2023.
Schofield took a break from his public roles, which also saw him part ways with the Prince’s Trust as an ambassador. Now, he’s set to grace our screens once more with this Channel 5 adventure, which he hailed on Instagram as his “story of survival, both on a desert island and off it”.
In the Cast Away trailer, Schofield declares: “I’ve been cast away on a desert island, completely on my own, all I have is camera gear, and I can say whatever I want about whatever I want. It’s my chance to tell my side of my story.” He then poses the poignant question: “I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to absolutely destroy someone?”
The teaser also gives viewers a glimpse of Schofield battling the elements in search of sustenance. The show is set to air over three consecutive nights, starting Monday and concluding next Wednesday, showcasing the ex-This Morning host’s ten-day ordeal of isolation. Channel 5 has revealed that the unique experience of Schofield’s solitude is set to allow him “to confront the challenges of total isolation, the forces of nature and provides the time to battle within his own mind as he explores his own controversial story.”
In a statement, Schofield said: “This is most definitely a first for me and the only thing I felt compelled to do. It appealed to me on so many levels. I’ve recently had a lot of time to think about my life, what went right and what went wrong, but I’ve always had the safe arms of friends and family wrapped around me. This time it’s just me, no phone, no comforts, no crew and only lip balm as a luxury.”
He also said: “I’m looking forward to exploring the island, trying to tie knots to secure my shelter and foraging and fending for myself in the wild … with no help. Maybe I’ll be Robinson Crusoe, or maybe I’ll just be Tom Hanks’ Wilson and quietly drift off into the wild blue yonder.”
The 2000 film ‘Cast Away’ featured Tom Hanks as Charles “Chuck” Noland who ends up stranded in the Pacific Ocean after a plane crash, surviving alone for years with only the company of a volleyball. Similarly, the classic tale of ‘Robinson Crusoe’ recounts the adventures of a sailor marooned for decades on an island, encountering mutineers and indigenous people.
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