Right, what the hell is going on with Phillip Schofield’s desert island comeback TV show?

In the wildest and most unsavoury news of the last 24 hours, it has been surprise revealed that the Channel 5 mysterious show Cast Away is featuring a celebrity who is being dropped on an isolated island off Madagascar is none other than the disgraced Phillip Schofield. The show has been fully filmed in secret and no one really knew it was even happening – but now the details are emerging and the involvement of Phillip Schofield in his TV comeback after the “unwise but not illegal” affair that derailed his huge career is prompting a massive reaction.

The show, which Phillip Schofield filmed in secret, sees him cast away on a desert island for 10 days completely isolated. A source has told The Sun “Over the past few months Phil has had quite a few offers for various things – but has steadfastly turned them all down.

“This sort of challenge has always appealed to him though and after consulting with friends and family, he decided to go for it. It’s all been top secret, and has been an incredibly quick turnaround in order to keep the news quiet. After 42 years on telly, Phillip has learnt from some great crews and teams on how to film and tell a story. With 10 days to himself, no camera crews or production around, he shot some unbelievably raw footage – some of it makes for tough, emotional viewing.

“But he wanted a chance to share his story, unedited and honest, and let viewers see another side to him. Whilst this is a massive coup for Channel 5, and huge for Phillip, he’s in no rush to come back to TV full-time yet; he remains very bruised, and is just taking some time now to weigh things up before he makes any major decisions.”

Phillip Schofield posted about the Cast Away desert island TV comeback news on his Instagram story last night.

This morning, he then posted some photos from the show and said “Now you know how I spent my summer. Alone for 10 days, no food, no water, no crew. My story off survival, both on a desert island and off it.”

Last summer, Phillip Schofield was involved in a scandal that resulted in him leaving This Morning and TV in general after an affair emerged that he’d cheated on his wife with a much younger male colleague. Schofield described this affair as “consensual” and “unwise but not illegal.”

Related articles recommended by this author:

• Everything Phillip Schofield has been up to since his life came down in ruins

• Lavish trips and family time: Inside Holly Willoughby’s summer break after Schofield scandal

• Phillip Schofield is ‘very very down’ as he accepts he’ll ‘never work again’