Phillip Schofield has revealed what really happened at This Morning with the two words “I’m fired”.

The 62-year-old left the ITV show in May last year following a so-called ‘feud’ with former best pal and co-presenter Holly Willoughby. After months of speculation he also admitted having an ‘unwise, but not illegal affair’ with a younger, male colleague.

Ahead of making his big TV return on Channel 5 show Cast Away – 16 months on from the scandal that threatened to cost him his 35-year TV career – Phil has opened up on what really went on behind the scenes.

During preview clips from the new programme, which will air over three consecutive nights, Phil said: “I miss parts of being on TV, certainly. I miss most of it, if I’m honest. I miss most of it. But there are bits that I really, really, really don’t miss.”

There is no love lost between the former pals if Phil’s latest comments are anything to go by (
Image:
ITV)

In what appears to be a dig at Holly – though she is never mentioned by name – Phil continued: “You learn a lot about people. I don’t miss that. When you throw someone under a bus, you’ve got to have a really bloody good reason to do it.”

He also appeared to mock Holly’s cringe moment ‘are you OK?’ intro to viewers on This Morning after he left. Making it clear there is no love lost between the pair these days, Phil was filmed sitting down with his wife Steph and two daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28, for a BBQ in their garden where he jokingly said: “If you’re okay, then we’re okay and I’m okay. Are you okay?”

Then, Phillip made a bombshell remark suggesting he was fired from the This Morning sofa rather than leaving by choice after two decades, Phil said: “It’s inconceivable that I would quit [any show that he is on].” In a blunt comment, he added: “I don’t quit. I’m fired. But I never quit.”

Discussing his affair, Phil admitted: “It was an unwise and unprofessional thing to do. I will be forever sorry. You know, I screwed up. I made a mistake. I hurt the people around me.”

And he also set the record straight on whether or not he would be appearing on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! The show, hosted by his pals Ant and Dec, is due to start again in November and Phil has been touted as one of the favourite celebs to head into the jungle this year.

But after severing all ties with ITV – where his former shows, This Morning, Dancing on Ice and The Cube were broadcast – the chances of Phil helping the channel boost viewing figures are slim.

Shutting down the rumours, Phil didn’t even mention the show by name as he said: “I’m apparently 4/1 to do the other jungle programme. Although my best mates host it, there are some channels you just won’t work for. There are just some people you won’t work for.”