Phillip Schofield dealt huge blow amid TV return comeback rumours: 'Destined to fail'
Phillip Schofield has been "teasing his return" to TV on his social media
PA/ITV/YOUTUBE
Phillip Schofield has slowly been introducing himself back into the world of showbiz and social media by posting images of himself and his puppy Alfie - but whilst many have been alleging this is a slow move back into TV, others have thought otherwise.
He left This Morning following reports of an ongoing feud between himself and co-star Holly Willoughby - someone who he had been best friends with since she started on the show in 2009.
Schofield later admitted to having an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger colleague, later being axed from ITV and seeing no prospect of returning to the channel.
During the height of his axing, a source claimed to the Daily Mail, that Schofield felt he was "thrown under the bus" when it came to his departure on the show and added: "Phillip firmly believes that he has been mistreated by ITV.
"He thinks he was thrown under the bus. From some of what he says, he feels he is the victim."
Rumours have begun to swirl that the former presenter could possibly make his comeback later this year, and make an appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! - especially since he is still friends with both Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were allegedly feuding at the time of his departure
PA
However, this seems unlikely according to Showbiz Specialist Kayley Cornelius after she claimed that there is "no space" for Schofield to return to TV entirely, and could be "destined to fail".
Speaking on behalf of Betfred, she told GB News: "ITV has sent a string of clear messages to Phillip Schofield to show that he is no longer welcome back to the broadcaster.
"The first major blow was when they deliberately edited him out of old interviews aired recently on This Morning. The latest blow came with ITV announcing a new TV series, 'You Bet!', which will see Holly Willoughby host alongside Stephen Mulhern.
"It appears that ITV is trying to reinvent Stephen as Holly’s new sidekick, and it’s now evident that there's no space for Phil to return to TV entirely. These setbacks have likely thrown a spanner in the works for any plans Phil had to revive his career.
Phillip Schofield admitted to having an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger This Morning colleague
ITV
"Especially after the Huw Edwards scandal and the ongoing controversy at Strictly Come Dancing, these incidents have shown TV bosses that there's no room for error when casting stars. Rival broadcasters will currently be on high alert, fearing mass cancellation as they know viewers will tune out if they make a casting mistake.
"This makes it less likely that anyone will take the risk of featuring Phil on any of their shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, I’m a Celebrity, or Celebrity Big Brother as the broadcast stations can’t afford for their ratings to take yet another dip."
She continued: "With this in mind, it looks like a Phillip Schofield TV return could be doomed. While Phil could potentially make a return to a smaller broadcaster as an independent, it would be destined to fail, possibly leading him down the same path as Ellen DeGeneres.
"Both figures faced mass cancellation for their behaviour on set, with Ellen spending many years off-screen before trying to make a return. After a recent unsuccessful tour announcement, she has decided to retreat again and retire from the limelight, which could set the tone for Phil if he takes a similar route.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Phillip Schofield has slowly reintroduced himself to social media over the past year
"While any form of TV return from Phil would initially gain mass public attention, once the initial interest wanes, he would likely struggle to maintain it."
In a statement he issued in May 2023, Schofield admitted: "I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
"Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over."