Carefree Phillip Schofield spotted for first time since being replaced on DOI

Phillip Schofield has been spotted for the first time since Dancing On Ice returned to screens.

His former This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby made her much-anticipated comeback for the ITV ice skating competition earlier this month. Phillip and Holly presented the show together, until he was replaced by Stephen Mulhern for the latest series. It comes after Phillip admitted to having an “unwise” but “not illegal” affair with a younger collegeue.

He ended up quitting This Morning and ITV all together following the scandal. It also fractured his relationship with once-best friend Holly. Phillip is said to not be tuning in to watch his old pal as she makes her return to TV work for Dancing On Ice, as he is “bruised” by his absence.

Phillip has now been spotted out in public heading to a local shop. He appeared in high spirits as he was snapped laughing and grinning in the rare sighting. The former TV star donned a black puffer coat with a grey hoodie underneath, paired with blue jeans and a pair on Converse trainers.

Although many tuned in to watch Holly work her magic on her TV return, Phillip was “unlikely” to have watched the programme. A source told The Sun: “Phil is still bruised by the whole Holly falling-out and the way it was played out publicly. He still can’t bring himself to watch This Morning and even listening to the theme tune is deeply triggering. It would seem unlikely he is avidly tuning in to watch Holly’s return to TV.”

According to the insider, he “reached out” to Holly when the news of the kidnap plot was publicised but “it’s understood they have not been in contact since, so he’s probably not spoken to Holly ahead of her DOI return.” Phillip came clean about the affair with his younger male colleague and was dropped from several brand deals and his long-running post on Dancing On Ice.

Phillip presented his last show on May 18, 2023 as two days later his departure was announced with “immediate effect”. Five months after his shock departure from ITV, Holly announced her departure from the daytime show. While Holly has since returned to the limelight, Phillip has maintained his low profile.

It looks as though Phil isn’t planning a showbiz return anytime soon as his close friends ruled out him returning to his presenting duties given that he is still not in a great place after the shocking year he endured. It was reported that Phillip was gearing up for a TV comeback following the publication of ITV’s report into his affair while he was presenting This Morning. Friends close to the fallen star indicated that he had been “dreading” what the review would uncover about his relationship while he was married to Stephanie Lowe, the mother of his two daughters.

The report cleared ITV bosses of a cover-up, after there had been suggestions that they had known about Phillip’s affair, which had shocked Holly, who was insistent she had no idea about it when the affair was revealed. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, a friend of Phil said: “Phillip isn’t returning anywhere, he has been in a really bad place since he decided to tell the truth and resign from his job. He has got himself into a cocoon and he is continuing to recover. He has had the report hanging over his head for a long time. It has been a thing of dread for him.”

Phillip said he was “too unwell” to take part in the inquiry, which was led by lawyer Jane Mulcahy KC. The former This Morning presenter has been enjoying spending quality time with his loved ones since the scandal came to light. He has been pictured several times out and about with his elderly mother and has been seen heading to his local pub with close friends.

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