Phillip Schofield: Cast Away | Preview (Channel 5)

Phillip Schofield has been in the public eye for decades, but now he’s about to face his most personal and physical challenge yet: ten days of complete isolation on a remote island off the coast of Madagascar.

Filmed across three episodes, he learns to live in the unforgiving wilderness while confronting the complexities and life changing challenges of recent times in this deeply revealing, emotional and cathartic experience.

Speaking on the programme, Schofield says [via The Sun]: "I miss parts of being on TV certainly. I miss most of it, if I’m honest, I miss most of it. But there are bits that I really, really, really don’t miss. You learn a lot about people, I don’t miss that. If you’re OK, then we’re OK, and I’m OK …are you OK?"

Speaking later in the programme [via The Sun]: "I’m apparently four to one to do the other jungle programme... Although my best mates host it, there are some channels you just won’t work for. There are just some people you won’t work for."

In the first episode, after a training day with a survival expert, Phillip takes his final boat ride to the island, where he’ll be utterly alone and filming himself with no crew - forced to reckon with both the unforgiving environment and effects of total isolation.

Landing on the island's beach, he is excited and optimistic about the challenge ahead. But with gale force winds ripping into his camp in the middle of the night, he soon realises this might be harder than expected.

As the days pass Phillip is left to navigate his new island home alone, attempting to scavenge for mangoes, find a water source and catch fish. His time alone offers him opportunities to reflect on some of the tougher times in his life.

After days without any meaningful food, he desperately ventures into the jungle at dusk in hopes of catching a crab for dinner. But as the dark sets in he finds himself lost in the dense jungle with only a headlamp and no idea of how to get back to camp. Disorientated and alone, panic starts to set in.

Phillip Schofield says: “This is most definitely a first for me and the only thing I felt compelled to do. It appealed to me on so many levels. I’ve recently had a lot of time to think about my life, what went right and what went wrong, but I’ve always had the safe arms of friends and family wrapped around me...

"This time it’s just me, no ‘phone, no comforts, no crew and only lip balm as a luxury. I’m looking forward to exploring the island, trying to tie knots to secure my shelter and foraging and fending for myself in the wild … with no help. Maybe I’ll be Robinson Crusoe, or maybe I’ll just be Tom Hank’s Wilson and quietly drift off into the wild blue yonder!!” 

Cast Away airs Monday-Wednesday from 30th September on Channel 5.