Phillip Schofield prompts Channel 5 viewers to boycott the station after announcing his collaboration: “I won’t accept a convicted felon and addict.”

Channel 5 has sparked a backlash among viewers with many claiming they “won’t be watching” after the broadcaster announced Phillip Schofield’s comeback to TV.

Next week, Phillip will return to television in an exclusive three-part series for Channel 5. Making his first television appearance in over 12 months, the former This Morning host will tell his own personal story in an emotionally charged survival experience titled Phillip Schofield Cast Away.

The three-part series will air across three nights from Monday, September 30, to Wednesday, October 2. It will follow Phillip as he is cast away for ten days and nine nights on a remote, unpopulated island off the coast of Madagascar.

The synopsis for the series reads: “Phillip is left alone with only a handful of cameras to document his own experience. This solitary island existence presents an opportunity for Phillip 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.

“While Phillip is alone on the island the production team will be stationed 30 minutes offshore, only to intervene in the event of an extreme emergency. Phillip’s mental health and physical safety is monitored as the experience progresses.”

In the short trailer for the programme, Phillip can be heard saying: “It is my chance to tell my side of the story. I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to absolutely destroy someone?”

Phillip Schofield will make his TV comeback next week

Phillip Schofield will make his TV comeback next week (

Image:
PA)
Speaking about his comeback, Phillip began: “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. 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 Hank’s Wilson and quietly drift off into the wild blue yonder!”

Channel 5 Commissioning Editor, Guy Davies added: “This isn’t just a survival challenge, it’s chance for Phillip to look back over the last explosive 18 months of his life, and explore what happened.

“The audience will learn how he feels now about television and the future, as well as the past. And it will be Phillip Schofield as we have never seen him before – unguarded, emotional and brutally honest…”

Phillip said in the trailer what he did was unwise

Phillip said in the trailer what he did was unwise (
Image:
(Image: Channel 5))
However, the announcement has sparked a strong reaction online, and while many are pleased to see Phillip return to screens, other viewers are refusing to watch the programme.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one angry fan wrote: “Shame on Channel 5 giving Phillip Schofield a route back onto British TV. Hopefully, it backfires spectacularly. By the looks of things, it looks like it’s already backfiring.”

“I won’t be watching the Phillip Schofield pity party on Channel 5. And I don’t believe he turned down better offers,” another commented.

“I have absolutely no intention of watching this,” a third added while someone else agreed: “I won’t be watching Phillip Schofield on any channel. I hope Channel 5 didn’t pay him much.”

Phillip said in the trailer what he did was unwise

Another asked: “Why did Channel 5 give Phillip Schofield the chance to return to television?”

Stepping in to defend Phillip, one fan penned: “Fair enough. Give Phillip Schofield another chance. A woman would be given another chance, why not a man?”