Phillip Schofield made his return to Instagram after over a year, sparking rumors of his potential TV comeback. His post featured a photo of his dog watching Formula One as he relaxed on the bed. The post gained likes from his daughters Ruby and Molly, as well as former This Morning co-host Josie Gibson. His last post before this was a video in May 2023, just before he stepped down from This Morning following revelations about his personal life. Despite push from friends and colleagues for a return to television, Phillip is said to have reservations. He has been supported by friends at ITV, including Alison Hammond and Ant and Dec, who encouraged him to consider a comeback.
Phil recently had a dinner with Declan Donnelly, marking their first public appearance together since the scandal. The pair appeared to be in good spirits, laughing and joking as if it were an ordinary night out. Following Phillip’s departure, his former co-host Holly Willoughby left the show in October. They were officially replaced by Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in March after a series of guest presenters rotated the daytime slot. Phillip’s friends have suggested that he may never work in showbusiness again, leaving him devastated and uncertain about his future. However, there have been rumors of a possible radio job offer for him, with some of Britain’s largest commercial stations interested in bringing him onboard.
An ITV report in December cleared the station of any cover-up regarding Phil’s affair with a younger colleague. Despite allegations of a whitewash, industry insiders suggest that the report could pave the way for Phillip to return to work in 2024 with a new big-money deal. However, a return to television for Phillip may be unlikely in the near future, with commercial radio opportunities potentially being more feasible for him. Phillip’s career began in local radio in New Zealand before he joined the BBC and ventured into television. It remains to be seen if popular radio stations like Classic FM, Magic, Virgin, Heart, or others will offer him a position. The Greatest Hits Radio has been hiring big names, indicating a possible opportunity for Phillip.
Following the release of the external review into his affair, ITV staff criticized the report as a whitewash. Many employees were bewildered by the findings that only one junior worker knew about the relationship. The report revealed that ITV did not attempt to cover up the affair and made efforts to uncover the truth in 2019, four years before it became public knowledge. Phillip and his former lover repeatedly denied the allegations until he admitted to the relationship and subsequent lies before quitting ITV. Recruitment efforts at various radio stations suggest that Phillip may have opportunities to return to his first love, radio hosting. The future remains uncertain for Phillip Schofield as he navigates the aftermath of the scandal and considers his options for a potential comeback in the media industry.
