Viewers are furious at Phillip Schofield’s claim in the second episode of his TV return, claiming it is ‘nauseating’.
The second episode of Phillip Schofield’s TV return, Cast Away, released this evening.
The presenter is returning to TV after a year and a half away.
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This comes after he resigned from This Morning following a controversy involving an extra-marital affair with a young coworker.
This occurred whilst he was married to his wife Stephanie Lowe, who appeared in the first and second episodes of the show.
The first episode was not well received, with some calling it ‘a disgrace’, and many asking whose idea it was for the show to be greenlit.
In the second episode, one scene received particular ire from fans.
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Schofield said: “Shamed, disgraced Phillip Schofield who had an affair.
“Strangely, I think another TV presenter or two might have done exactly the same thing. Difference is [they’re] heterosexual.”
He goes on to say that age-gap relationships are ‘not an unusual thing in the gay world’.
“That’s not an unusual thing in the straight world.
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“But if that had been the case with me and it had been a woman. Pat on the back. ‘Well done mate.’”
This claim was not well received by fans, who suggested Schofield was trying to obfuscate blame.
One post laid into the former This Morning presenter when he said it, saying: “So he thinks he was made an example of because he’s gay? Oh ffs this is unreal. The pity party is sickening.”
Another more simply said: "F*ck me does anyone have a tiny violin for this guy".
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One poster said: “I hope anyone claiming Schofield is sorry is paying attention tonight.
"I’ve watched 30 seconds and he’s seriously claimed he was treated differently because he is gay - mea culpa?
“This is a masterclass in impenitence.”
Other reactions pointed to the power imbalance between Schofield and his young affair partner.
Schofield met the young man he had an affair with when he was 15, and got him work experience at ITV at 19. The affair however did not begin until he was 20.
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The presenter has denied any allegations of an improper relationship with the man, saying everything was ‘legal’ and ‘consensual’.
He admits in the first episode of the show it was ‘unwise’.
One reaction to the show said they ‘couldn’t stop watching’, saying: “This is absolutely nauseating but I can’t stop watching #Castaway #PhillipSchofield”.
Another pointed to one particular issue with the show: “I think the thing is this programme is actually really boring #phillipschofield”.
A third said: "The problem with this Phillip Schofield is that he shows no humility or any sense of genuine responsibility for his situation.
"His idea is that this was ‘done to him’. No compassion shown for the impact on the young person involved. Bad form."
The final episode of Cast Away will air on Channel 5 tomorrow, October 2, on Channel 5.
Topics: Phillip Schofield, TV, This Morning, Channel 5, TV and Film
Michael Slavin