For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Phillip Schofield is set to make an unexpected return to television 16 months after exiting ITV over his widely reported affair scandal.

The former This Morning host has kept a low public profile since last summer, when he admitted to having an affair with a younger male colleague.

The Sun reported on Tuesday that the 62-year-old has secretly filmed a Channel 5 special, titled Cast Away, which sees him marooned on a tropical island for 10 days.

The tabloid shared screenshots from the series of Mr Schofield looking grizzled in a dirty grey t-shirt and a white beard.

“Over the past few months Phil has had quite a few offers for various things – but has steadfastly turned them all down,” a source told The Sun.

“This sort of challenge has always appealed to him though and after consulting with friends and family, he decided to go for it. It’s all been top secret, and has been an incredibly quick turnaround in order to keep the news quiet.

open image in gallery

Advertisement

“After 42 years on telly, Phillip has learnt from some great crews and teams on how to film and tell a story.

“With 10 days to himself, no camera crews or production around, he shot some unbelievably raw footage – some of it makes for tough, emotional viewing.

“But he wanted a chance to share his story, unedited and honest, and let viewers see another side to him.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

Advertisement

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

“Whilst this is a massive coup for Channel 5, and huge for Phillip, he’s in no rush to come back to TV full-time yet; he remains very bruised, and is just taking some time now to weigh things up before he makes any major decisions.”

Channel 5 teased the special on Monday with a clip showing just the back and legs of an unnamed celebrity as fans guessed who it might be.

The broadcaster captioned its post: “Coming Soon to Channel 5… A celebrity marooned on an uninhabited tropical island off the coast of Madagascar for 10 days is challenged with total isolation, the forces of nature, and the battle within their own mind.”

Cast Away airs over three nights beginning 30 September.

The news comes hours after Mr Schofield posted the message “watch this space” to his Instagram story, alongside a winky face emoji.

The series will be Mr Schofield’s first time on television since he sensationally left ITV last year following 20 years with the broadcaster.

Mr Schofield’s presenting partner Holly Willoughby left This Morning after 14 years in October 2023, explaining her decision as one made “for me and my family”.

In a statement at the time, Mr Schofield said he had had a “consensual on-off relationship” that was “unwise, but not illegal”.

He apologised for the affair, which happened while he was married to his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe.

A CONTROVERSIAL X Factor star looks worlds apart from their time in the ITV competition.

Viewers may remember bad boy Mason Noise from appearing in the 2015 series.

4

Advertisement

4

4

Mason, who was 21, locked horns with Simon Cowell during the infamous “Six Chair Challenge” over the length of his audition slot.

Mentored by Nick Grimshaw, he ultimately finished in seventh place overall.

Almost a decade on, the star seems to have well and truly moved on from his TV days.

Now working as a healer, Mason’s Instagram bio describes him as a “Musician, Reiki Healer, Inner~Explorer.”

Meanwhile, one of Mason’s social posts further explains his new career path.

He penned: “I have chosen to live a better life.

“I want to participate in creating a better future, and to do that I have realised I must disentangle myself from old patterns.

“I have to quieten the mind through the connection with my heart, and commit to become more than I ever previously imagined.”

Just a few years ago, Mason feared he would die after contracting sepsis.

He was hospitalised having sustained a hand wound, which came after being bitten in a post-pub fight with a stranger.

As the bite ended up getting infected, the rapper was rushed to hospital.

He was forced to undergo two operation after his hand swelled up.

Mason later explained: “It was classic example of wrong place, wrong time.

“I’d been visiting friends in the Cotswolds, near Cirencester, with my family and we were staying on a caravan site.

“I was with a friend and his girlfriend, sitting in my friend’s car having just got home from a night out.

“It was around 1am in the morning.

“And this guy who looked like he was on his way home from a night in the  pub walked over to us.

“He was shining a torch in the car and acting aggressively.”

A scuffle between the pair led to Mason’s knuckle cut open by what he thought was the man’s tooth.

Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death – and severe sepsis will prove fatal in around 20–35% of people.

4

SHAYNE Ward is making a surprise return to soap land six years after his dramatic exit from Coronation Street.

The Strictly star, who left the ITV soap in 2018 following his character’s tragic death, is set to join another drama — this time alongside his real-life fiancée.

6

Advertisement

6

6

6

He shot to fame in 2005 after winning The X Factor and went on to have a successful music career.

In 2015, he made the switch to acting, landing the role of Aidan Connor on the Cobbles.

His emotional storyline, which ended with his character’s suicide, touched viewers across the nation. 

Now, Shayne is set for a soap comeback, which will thrill fans who have missed him on their screens.

Shayne starred in Corrie as factory boss Aiden for three years, leaving the ITV soap in a heatbreaking hour-long suicide storyline episode.

He most recently appeared in Channel 5 crime drama The Good Ship Murder with ex-Corrie co-star Catherine Tyldesley.

In soon to be cancelled Doctors – Shayne will play a character named Kenny Webb.

His real life fiancée & former Hollyoaks actress Sophie Austin is listed as a character named Sandra Horner

The Sun previously revealed how the long-running medical drama has been axed by BBC bosses after two decades on air

The legendary medical drama’s last episode airs in December.

Announcing the end of the show, a BBC spokesperson previously said: “We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama Doctors to an end after 23 years.

“With super inflation in drama production, the cost of the programme has increased significantly, and further investment is also now required to refurbish the site where the show is made, or to relocate it to another home.

“With a flat licence-fee, the BBC’s funding challenges mean we have to make tough choices in order to deliver greater value to audiences.”

Before then he will continue to impress on the dancefloor on Saturday nights.

Shayne made his debut last weekend during a notoriously tricky samba with his dance partner Nancy Xu, grooving around the dance floor to the Stevie Wonder hit, Do I Do.

The Manchester-born star won the second series of X Factor in 2005, competing against Andy Abraham, who finished in second place, and Journey South, who took third.

He then won a recording contract with Simon Cowell’s Syco label and went on to release several successful singles.

Shayne’s biggest hits include That’s My Goal, which was his debut single and reached number one in the UK.

6

6