Phillip Schofield dealt major blow over Channel 5 Cast Away show as TV return falters

Former This Morning host Phillip Schofield made his heavily advertised return to screens on Monday night after he destroyed his own career with an “unwise” affair

Phillip Schofield has faced fresh humiliation as his big TV comeback landed with a damp squib – and a low viewership.

The 62-year-old former This Morning star has been hoping to relaunch his career with a Channel 5 documentary – airing more than a year after his historic “unwise, but not illegal” affair destroyed his career. Three part docuseries Phillip Schofield Cast Away began airing on Channel 5 on Monday night – attracting scathing reviews and dividing audiences.

However, the audience figures themselves have been low as ratings figures have shown just 1.4 million people tuned in to watch the fallen star mope around a desert island on his own. The documentary was aimed to help rehabilitate Schofield’s ruined public image, but saw audiences slam him online for appearing “narcissistic” and “unremorseful” over the origins of his self-inflicted career implosion.

If you can’t see the poll, click here

Now it has been revealed that ITV outperformed Schofield’s heavily advertised TV return – as crime drama Joan, starring Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner, attracted over 2 million viewers. A Channel 5 spokesperson refused to officially comment if the ratings for Phillip Schofield Cast Away were considered a success or flop.

The second part of Phillip Schofield Cast Away is due to air on Channel 5 tonight at 9pm, while the third and final instalment will air at the same time on Wednesday. The show has been billed as “an authentic and intense physical and mental challenge” as Schofield was left on a deserted island for 10 days and left with a camera to film himself.

In the first episode, Schofield said to the camera: “In the last 18 months my life has totally unravelled. I locked myself away from the outside world. But now I want to see if the ultimate isolation can finally set me free.” He was shown looking for crabs to eat and battling against harsh winds, as he reflected on how the survivalist experience helped to empty what he calls his “toxicity tanks”.

He added that he wants people to “bugger off and let me get on with the quiet life that you’ve all given me”, before sharing how “dark” things became. Reflecting on his ruined career, he said: “I miss parts of it. I miss most of it. There are bits I really, really don’t miss. You learn a lot about people. You learn a lot about people. I don’t miss that.”

A poll issued by the Mirror found that 54 percent of viewers were not impressed by Schofield’s return. Voicing their thoughts in the comments section, one person penned: “And he’s been paid a wage to do this program. It’s not like he needs the money, so this is purely a vanity project and a route back to the attention he so craves.”

Another posted on the Mirror’s Facebook page: “I personally don’t want him back on TV. He had a good career which is over all his fault,” while a third echoed: “Schofield is utterly shameless in his pursuit of celebrity status.” A fourth posted: “He doesn’t need to work again with the money he has. So to come back with his pity party ‘poor me’ pathetic attempt at getting back into to the limelight shows he has no shame. He’s not sorry for what he did. He abused his position in a big way. And now he throws the blame at everyone else. Tells you what type of person he is really.”