Phillip Schofield’s TV comeback Cast Away is one of the weirdest yet
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It's a harsh twist of fate: Phillip Schofield, who was once a beloved figure on morning television, now finds himself struggling to survive on a remote island in Madagascar, searching for food, water, and a place to stay. Completely alone and with his facial hair growing wild, his only companions are the Channel 5 cameras scattered around the island, capturing his experiences for the upcoming three-part series, Phillip Schofield: Cast Away. This marks the 62-year-old host's first television appearance since his dismissal from ITV’s This Morning last year due to a scandal involving an affair with a much younger coworker. It's a comeback that seems unwanted, on a channel that lacks viewership, featuring a man who appears uncertain about his purpose in participating.
The former host of This Morning faced one of the most sensational media storms in recent times, culminating in a series of frantic interviews where he openly discussed his experiences while vaping. Did he break any laws? Not at all. He admitted that his dishonest handling of a personal relationship was "foolish but not a crime." Was there a hint of homophobia in the way people reacted? It's possible—if you sift through the countless comments on social media about him, you'll find that much of the animosity directed at Schofield has a distinctly homophobic tone. Could anyone have distanced themselves from him any quicker? Probably not. One thing is clear: there's still a lack of clarity on how to address this entire situation, and Schofield's recent appearance on Cast Away is no exception. He spends a lot of time talking about the aftermath of the scandal—what he refers to as being “cancelled”—while mostly avoiding the details of his actions. Although there's a significant issue that remains unspoken, Schofield still makes a point of highlighting the evident signs of that issue all around.
Why is Cast Away happening? For Channel 5, the answer is straightforward. The network, which has struggled to stay relevant with its outdated approach to programming, is using Schofield’s controversial reputation to generate more conversation and media attention than it has experienced in a long time—perhaps even years. In this sense, the show is already considered a triumph, despite the fact that viewers have reacted overwhelmingly negatively.
What’s even more puzzling is what Schofield was really aiming for with this completely Alan Partridge-style show. Was it to kickstart his career again? You might think so, but his demeanor in the series feels less like a triumphant return and more like a final, weary farewell. Or maybe it's just a chance for him to express his frustrations. (“I don’t care anymore, I'm just saying my piece as I exit,” he mentions at one point.) There had been rumors that he was being considered for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, a show often seen as the end of the line for celebrity status – but even that would likely have been a better option than what we got here. In this isolated, low-budget struggle against nature, Schofield still faces hunger and has to deal with the discomfort of finding a spot to relieve himself, but without the big ITV paycheck or the playful banter with Ant and Dec.
In the carefully staged moments featuring Schofield and his family, which were recorded before his trip to the island, the show starts to resemble a public relations effort—an attempt to mend the presenter’s image by portraying him as a sympathetic victim of a harsh and damaging hate campaign. It's becoming more common for controversial figures to turn to reality TV to rebuild their reputations, with notable instances being Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage. Later in the first episode, an emotional Schofield discusses his thoughts of suicide from the previous year. This is a serious topic and shouldn’t be taken lightly, although it does come across as somewhat strategic in its presentation.
However, it's hard to overlook the absolute futility of the entire situation. At one moment, Schofield expresses his frustration with the media's invasion of his personal life after the controversy. "Leave me alone, and let me enjoy the peaceful life you've all made for me," he pleads directly into the camera of a television broadcaster.
The program offers an intriguing look into the impact of being “cancelled” for someone like Schofield, who has dedicated his life to engaging with morning TV audiences. While actors who face cancellation often find opportunities in European or independent films, and writers can still publish their work, musicians can continue to perform and create. Schofield's situation is different; he lacks a guiding artistic passion. His role was purely as a presenter, known for being personable and friendly on television. Now, however, the public no longer views him as trustworthy or likable—leading to the disastrous Jet2 vacation saga.
Despite the talent of the upbeat morning host, part of their charm lies in their uniformity—take, for instance, the exceptionally generic nature of the new This Morning team, Cat and Ben. He’s likely aware of this fact. In many respects, Cast Away makes perfect sense: it serves as a platform for someone whose entire life revolves around being on screen, without any real contemplation of the reasons behind it. If this truly is the final appearance of Schofield on television, that would be one thing. However, having seen the Tom Hanks film, I can’t help but think that he’ll eventually return.
"Phillip Schofield: Cast Away" is airing again on Channel 5 at 9 PM on Tuesday, October 1.
