‘This is sickening’
Viewers have been ‘sickened’ by a claim Phillip Schofield made during the second episode of his TV return.
On Tuesday night, the second episode of Phillip Schofield: Cast Away was broadcast on Channel 5.
The show is a three-part series which follows Schofield as he’s stranded on the coast of Madagascar for 10 days with no crew and only some cameras to document his experience.
The series has been Schofield’s first TV appearance since he quit This Morning after admitting to lying about an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a colleague during his time as a presenter on the ITV daytime show.
The first episode wasn’t particularly well-received by audiences or critics, with some calling it the “most boring hour of television,” and asking who though the show was a good idea.
It seems like episode two attracted a similar reaction, with one scene in particular angering many.
Reflecting on the scandal that led to his resignation from ITV, 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, heterosexual.”
He went on to say that relationships with a multi-year age gaps are “not an unusual thing in the gay world,” and suggested the reaction from the public and media would have been very different if the affair had been with a woman.
He continued: “If that had been the case with me and it had been a woman. Pat on the back. ‘Well done mate.’”
This claim left many viewers furious that Schofield seemed to be refusing to take the blame for what happened, with some going as far to say it was “sickening.”
One person wrote: “So he thinks he was made an example of because he’s gay? Oh ffs this is unreal. The pity party is sickening.”
Another 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.”
A third commented: “There really is no self reflection here. He doesn’t appear to understand his part is his own destruction.”
This isn’t the first time Schofield has suggested the fallout from the affair would have been different if he was in a heterosexual relationship.
In an interview with the Sun following his This Morning departure, he said the backlash to the age gap between himself and his former lover amounted to “homophobia.”
He compared himself to Leonardo Di Caprio, who has famously dated a number of much younger women, and said it’s “accepted” by him.
The final episode of Phillip Schofield: Cast Away will be aired on Channel 5 at 9pm on October 2, with the first two episodes available to watch on My5 now.
