Phillip Schofield ‘tipped’ to join I’m A Celebrity in what could be surreal TV comeback (Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Former This Morning star Phillip Schofield could be heading Down Under this Autumn as rumours of his epic TV comeback heat up after his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair shattered his career last year

Phillip Schofield could be set to make a surreal TV comeback as he’s tipped to join the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! lineup for 2024.

If Phillip, 62, decides to head into the iconic Australian jungle on the ITV show fronted by Geordie duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, it would be his first TV appearance since he sensationally quit his long-running role as a presenter This Morning. Phillip stepped away from the ITV show back in May 2023 after his affair with a much younger male staff member was exposed.

Since the shocking affair was revealed, the fallen TV star – who also stepped away from his hosting duties on Dancing On Ice alongside co-host Holly Willoughby – has kept a low profile. Phillip has kept his personal life private, and has been spending time with his loved ones following his colossal fall from grace.

However, in recent months, there have been whispers of a huge TV return – and the former This Morning star could potentially be set for a stint in the jungle after maintaining a close friendship with Ant and Dec despite the scandal.

Phil could be set for a huge TV comeback on I’m A Celebrity ( Image: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, a source has hinted that Phillip could be set to save his reputation by heading Down Under where he will be quizzed about his affair and the aftermath by his fellow co-stars. Phillip was recently seen out and about with I’m A Celebrity host Dec, 48, where he looked in high spirits as the pair were pictured laughing heartily together.

This particular sighting has sparked more speculation that the I’m A Celebrity host might be able to pull some strings to get Schofield Down Under and the oddsmakers agree – making him just 4/1 to be heading to the jungle later this year.

S portscasting.com spokesman Andy Newton, reacted to the odds saying: ” Phillip Schofield, who left ITV under a cloud just over a year ago, looks ready to make a TV comeback – if his recent public sightings are anything to go by.

“It seems Schofield has been testing the water by stepping out of hibernation to gauge people’s reactions and with a string of celebs getting behind the former This Morning presenter – this will give him the confidence he needs to make a return.

“An easy route back to getting plenty of airtime is via one of the popular reality shows and with Schofield recently snapped laughing and joking with I’m A Celebrity’s Declan Donnelly – the 4/1 on offer on a TV comeback in the jungle doesn’t look the worst shout in the world.”

Phil has maintained a strong friendship with Ant and Dec following his fall from grace
For several months now, Phillip has been making a cautious return to social media, posting infrequently about his beloved dog. Although he has turned comments off on his posts, the fallen TV star has continuously garnered thousands of likes from his loyal followers after deciding to finally break his social media silence after the fallout from his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair.

He admitted lying to his family and bosses about the relationship, appearing for a tell-all BBC interview in which he confessed his daughter saved his life. Saying he felt ‘broken and ashamed’, the dad-of-two stepped away from the limelight and spent time with his parents in Cornwall.

Crisis management pro Edward Coram James, CEO of Go Up, thinks his discretion could have earned him a second chance at his career. The PR expert told the Mirror recently: “It’s hardly surprising that Schofield is now considering a comeback, and that producers and networks may be lining up to make him job offers. There are many ways that Schofield could have reacted that could have cemented his fate for the worse. Instead, his behaviour during and after the scandal is a textbook example of how people should act in the face of PR disaster. It’s a feat that very few manage to pull off. But it’s given Schofield the opportunity for a second chance.”

The Mirror has approached ITV for comment on this story.