Phillip Schofield’s reported comeback appears to be gathering steam, with many stars showing their support for the disgraced presenter through his array of Instagram posts.
The This Morning star, 62, left ITV under a huge cloud in May 2023, after admitting that he had an affair with a younger colleague on the show.
While Phillip took a significant break from the public eye in the wake of the scandal, in May he made a return to Instagram with posts featuring his dog Alfie.
Stars including Richard E Grant, Rylan Clark and Kate Garraway have shared their support for Phillip through various ‘likes’ and comments underneath his posts.
His most recent post featured a snap of his dog with the caption: ‘Wet through with Uggs on.’
Phillip Schofield ‘s reported comeback appears to be gathering steam, with stars including Declan Donnelly (pictured) and Richard E Grant recently showing support for the presenter
The This Morning star left ITV under a huge cloud in May 2023, after admitting that he had an affair with a younger colleague on the show (pictured in 2021)
While comments on his post had been limited, one came from Richard, who posted a row of heart emojis.
Another video, posted on Friday, showed Phillip’s dog messing around under a bed sheet, with This Morning consumer expert Alice Beer commenting: ‘He is such a clown.’
Rylan was also among the thousands to like Phillip’s snap that he shared last week, while Kate Garraway also liked the star’s post on July 14, ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Earlier this month, Phillip also appeared to be making a gradual return to public life, attending the British Grand Prix with his wife Stephanie Lowe and their two daughters.
Last month he was also was pictured smiling with I’m A Celebrity star Declan Donnelly, 48, during a night out, charging rumours that a return to TV for the axed presenter is on the cards.
He had reportedly just enjoyed a four-hour dinner with ITV’s golden boy at a restaurant close to their homes when they were spotted in hysterics.
Phillip’s beloved daughter Molly is now his publicist after she quit the talent agency that once represented her father.
PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year away to disappear and get himself together.
Phillip’s most recent post featured a snap of his dog, with actor Richard E Grant sharing a series of heart emojis in the comments
Another video, posted on Friday, showed Phillip’s dog messing around under a bed sheet, with This Morning consumer expert Alice Beer commenting: ‘He is such a clown’
Rylan was also among the thousands to like Phillip’s snap that he shared last week
Kate Garraway also liked Phillip’s post on July 14, ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain
Despite the scandal that brought Phillip’s career to an abrupt end, several stars have stood by him, including Vanessa Feltz, who was pictured heading out for dinner with him in August
Calling him a rare talent, Borkowski said: ‘He’s testing the waters. But audiences are very forgiving.’
Phillip told the BBC in an emotional interview last June the affair had finished his career and revealed that the fallout had left him feeling suicidal.
He told how his two daughters – Molly and Ruby – had saved his life and had ‘guarded me and won’t let me out of their sight’.
He admitted during the sit-down interview with Amol Rajan denied he had groomed the younger colleague, before telling critics: ‘Do you want me to die? Because that’s where I am.’
Phillip quit This Morning in a cloud of controversy having first lied to bosses about the ‘unwise, but not illegal’ relationship with the male runner 34 years his junior.
An external review led by barrister Jane Mulcahy KC concluded ITV had made ‘considerable efforts’ to find out the truth when rumours began to swirl about the relationship in 2019.
But the repeated denials meant the broadcaster was unable to uncover the truth until Schofield’s admission.
The fallout from the scandal led to the breakdown of his friendship with Holly Willoughby.
Following a return to social media in May, Phillip has made a handful of public appearances, sparking speculation he could be plotting a TV comeback
Phillip quit This Morning in a cloud of controversy having first lied to bosses about the ‘unwise, but not illegal’ relationship with the male runner 34 years his junior
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Phillip Schofield can't contain his laughter as he steps out for a wholesome dinner with cheerful Declan Donnelly as he eyes up TV comeback
After Phillip left the show in May, his co-host Holly Willoughby later quit in October due to an alleged kidnap plot.
The pair were officially replaced by Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in March as the two took on the show full time after a series of guest presenters had been rotating the daytime slot.
Back in March friends of the star have said that he is ‘quite certain’ he will never work again.
One said: ‘Phillip has been very, very down recently. He doesn’t know how he is going to work again. It’s devastating for him to realise but he also knows that there is not a lot he can do about it. He doesn’t know who will take him. He knows there is no way back to ITV or the BBC.’
Sources close to the star say that his friends are trying to encourage him to think he can have a ‘fulfilling life’ away from showbusiness.
One said: ‘Just because he may not be on telly again doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy his life. Phil isn’t so sure though.’
The star has though been tipped for a job on national radio – his ‘first love’ – with Britain’s largest commercial stations said to be jostling to bring him in to woo new listeners from rivals, including BBC Radio 2.