VANESSA Feltz has revealed she’s “delighted” by Phillip Schofield’s shock return to television.

The Sun exclusively revealed that Phillip, 62, has filmed a three-part series on Channel 5 called Cast Away that sees him marooned alone on an island near Madagascar.

Vanessa Feltz has welcomed Phillip Schofield's TV return
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Vanessa Feltz has welcomed Phillip Schofield’s TV returnCredit: Splash

Phillip has filmed a three-part series for Channel 5 called Cast Away
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Phillip has filmed a three-part series for Channel 5 called Cast AwayCredit: Channel 5
It’s his first telly appearance since he walked away from ITV early last year after admitting to lying about an affair with a young male colleague.

Broadcaster Vanessa, 62, has known Phillip for years and is hoping the series will bring him some peace.

In an interview with The Sun on behalf of online bingo site Heart Bingo, she said: “I’m surprised, but delighted, and I hope it’s great entertainment, and I hope that he achieves from it whatever he wants to achieve.

“I’d like to see it, I’m intrigued to see it and I wish him all the very best.”

Though she welcomes Phillip’s comeback, the type of programme he has decided to return with isn’t what she was expecting.

She continued: “No, not at all. I see why he would have chosen it, although it’s not what I would have expected.

“It seems to me that he would have autonomy over it, he is the only person in it, he was the only person filming it.

“Just him and a camera for 10 days, so I think he would have felt as if he could could orchestrate it, it would be authentic, nobody would manipulate him, he wouldn’t sort of end up on the cutting room floor, because he was the person actually making the film.

“I suppose when you to some extent your career’s been derailed and your life’s been derailed, I suppose you would opt for something like that, that you could be in charge of, and also he’s a very, very seasoned TV professional and he knows what he’s doing.

“I’m hoping that he’s done a fabulous job. I really hope so, I hope it’s great.”

In the first look trailer at Phillip’s Cast Away, the TV star is seen getting tearful as he muses about being “destroyed”.

He says: “I’ve been cast away on a desert island completely on my own. All I have is camera gear, I can say whatever I want about whoever I want.

“It’s my chance to tell my side of my story. I know what I did was unwise, but is it enough to absolutely destroy someone?”

The former This Morning host’s scandal ended his friendship with longtime co-star Holly Willoughby and left his telly career in tatters.

In an exclusive tell-all interview with The Sun, Phillip apologised for his actions to his ex-wife Stephanie and to Holly, though it wasn’t enough to mend their fractured relationship.

He said he had complete control of the programme's contents
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He said he had complete control of the programme’s contentsCredit: Channel 5

Vanessa often graced the This Morning sofa with Phillip
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Vanessa often graced the This Morning sofa with PhillipCredit: ITV
As his voiceover plays in the new clip, Phillip can be seen raising a hand to his face as he cries on the deserted Madagascan island.

Across three hour long episodes filmed over a nine-night solo stay, Phillip will tell his story free from any outside interference.

Explaining his decision to sign with Channel 5, Phillip 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.

“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!!”