Phillip Schofield laughed and partied with daughter Molly and pals on Monday night as he seemingly celebrated the release of his new show Cast Away.
The 62-year-old presenter’s much-anticipated TV comeback finally hit screens this week, with the disgraced star vowing to tell his side of the story in an ‘unedited and honest way.’
But despite the Channel 5 show being panned by viewers and critics alike, Phillip looked pretty pleased with himself as he chuckled away while posing for Instagram snaps with his loved ones.
Cutting a smart figure in a black sweater worn over a white shirt, Phillip certainly appeared in a good mood as he relaxed with his supportive daughter, who shared how ‘proud’ she was of him.
Reposting a pal’s photos, Molly penned: ‘What a night, thank you all for the support’, while in a second similar post she added: ‘Could not be more proud.’
Phillip Schofield laughed and partied with daughter Molly and pals on Monday night as he seemingly celebrated the release of his new show Cast Away
The 62-year-old presenter’s much-anticipated TV comeback finally hit screens this week, with the disgraced star vowing to tell his side of the story in an ‘unedited and honest way’
Elsewhere on the same night, Holly Willoughby seemingly ignored Phillip’s TV return as she supported her friend Tamzin Outhwaite at her new theatre show Abigail’s Party in Stratford.
The TV presenter, 43, took Instagram to share a snap with the actress, 53 – whom she is related to by marriage – with the pair beaming following Tamzin’s turn on the stage.
While Phillip appeared chuffed with the show, mere minutes into the first episode viewers were quick to accuse the presenter of being ‘less remorseful than he claims,’ after he made a supposed dig at his former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby.
During the show, Phillip discusses his bitter parting of ways with ITV and This Morning, which he hosted for 21 years, while fending for himself on a remote island paradise, located off the coast of Madagascar.
Phillip was ousted from This Morning in May last year, after he admitted to lying about his relationship with a much younger male colleague.
Holly distanced herself from her former best friend and during a ‘highly strategised’ return to the This Morning sofa in June 2023, she told viewers she had been left ‘shaken, let down and worried.’
When she returned, she began by saying: ‘Hello, Firstly, are you okay? I hope so. It feels very strange sat here without Phil.’
Appearing to reference the now-famous speech on Cast Away, Phillip is seen having a BBQ with his family before heading off to the island.
Despite the Channel 5 show being panned by viewers and critics alike, Phillip looked pretty pleased with himself as he chuckled away while posing for Instagram snaps with his loved ones
Elsewhere on the same night, Holly Willoughby seemingly ignored Phillip’s TV return as she supported her friend Tamzin Outhwaite at her new theatre show Abigail’s Party in Stratford
While Phillip appeared chuffed with the show, his Channel 5 show received a lukewarm reception
Viewers were quick to accuse the presenter of being ‘less remorseful than he claims,’ after he made a supposed dig at his former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby
Appearing to reference the now-famous speech on Cast Away, Phillip is seen having a BBQ with his family before heading off to the island
He gives out food to his wife Stephanie and their daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28, and laughs: ‘If you’re ok, then we’re ok, and I’m ok… are you ok?’
He gives out food to his wife Stephanie and their daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28, and laughs: ‘If you’re ok, then we’re ok, and I’m ok… are you ok?’
No mention of Holly is made in the clip, but fans were quick to clock the jibe, with one branding Phillip’s series an ‘ego trip’, before claiming he’s clearly ‘not as remorseful as he claims.’
Posts on X included: ‘Ooooh was that a cheeky dig at Holly Willoughby there Phillip? Are you OK; Are you OK… THAT HOLLY DIG!’
‘Schofe’s about to draw a smiley face on a volleyball and call it ”Willoughby”
Meanwhile, critics were not too impressed either, with Daily Mail’s Roland White stating that Phillip’s TV return could be the biggest television misjudgment since Prince Andrew thought his Newsnight interview ‘went well’.
In the two star review, he said: ‘By far the most entertainment to be had from last night’s episode of Cast Away (C5) was imagining the meeting which persuaded Phillip Schofield that it was a good idea to take part.
‘This could really put you back in the public eye, Phillip love,’ they might have said. ‘Because what people really want to watch these days is a big celebrity feeling sorry for themselves for an hour’.
Only an hour? It felt a lot longer. This could be the biggest television misjudgment since Prince Andrew smiled across at Emily Maitlis and said: ‘That went well, didn’t it?’
The idea is that Phillip would spend ten days alone on a tropical island off Madagascar. This is somebody, let’s not forget, who – as one of The Talent – had people at work to cater for his every whim. Could he cope?
‘I think there are an awful lot of people hoping that I never come back,’ he said. That just crossed the line from self-deprecation to self-pity, which is never an attractive look.
During the show, Phillip has declared that he ‘doesn’t miss’ parts of his TV career , after he dramatically departed his role on This Morning
Phillip discusses his bitter parting of ways with ITV and This Morning, which he hosted for 21 years
During the show, Phillip has declared that he ‘doesn’t miss’ parts of his TV career, after he dramatically departed his role on This Morning.
Cast Away sees the broadcaster stranded on an uninhabited island off Madagascar for 10 days with no food or water and without a production crew.
With only a camera to talk to, Phillip opened up about what life has been like since he was ousted from the daytime show.
He reflected: ‘I miss part of it, certainly. I miss most of it if I’m honest. But, there are parts that I really, really, really don’t miss.’
Phillip paused before divulging: ‘You learn a lot about people… I don’t miss that.’
Cast Away continues Tuesday at 9pm on Channel 5.
