Phillip Schofield says he could 'drive a bus over so many people' in TV industry as he reflects on 'utter utter betrayal'

Phillip Schofield has slammed a string of stars in the TV industry who he believes sold him down the river when his career was left in tatters in another scathing rant on his new show.

The 62-year-old made a controversial return to our screens this week while appearing in Channel 5's Cast Away, where he has showed off his survival skills as well as sharing his true feelings about some of his famous former friends.

In the three-part series, Schofield is marooned on an island off the coast of Madagascar for ten days - which he reckons is a walk in the part compared to the 'utter, utter betrayal' he has experienced since his affair scandal.

After 21 years of presenting This Morning, the former ITV star stepped away from his role when his 'unwise but not illegal' fling with a young co-worker came to light.

Bar a couple of interviews, Schofield has stayed out of the spotlight for the last 16 months following his dramatic departure - but now, it seems he is ready to have his say on what went down.

There's no food, water, camera crews or production teams with him on the remote island - it's just him and a camera, and he admitted that all of the alone time might encourage him to spill more than he probably should.

Viewers have branded some of his comments on the show 'nauseating', while others claim to have picked up on veiled digs at his former sidekick Holly Willoughby - so Cast Away has received quite an interesting reaction so far.

And in the second episode of the series, which aired last night (1 October), Schofield had a bone to pick with some of his other showbiz pals who he reckons threw him to the wolves when the controversy erupted last year.

Phillip Schofield slammed the lack of support he has received from people in the industry (Channel 5)

Schofield told the camera: "I have been chucked under a bus and I could drive the same bus over so many people, but I am not that sort of person. I never have been.

"But if I sit down with a camera and the lights going, who knows what I will say..."

He went on to talk about how he felt abandoned by people he was close to in the industry as well as stars he had worked alongside, explaining that they had washed their hands of him when his affair was revealed.

"I know what I did, and I wish I hadn't, and I know I made life tough for the people I love the most," Schofield continued.

"But people just went - people who I thought were my friends just went. And it's like 'What the hell?'

"I think another presenter or two might have done the same thing. Difference is, [they’re] heterosexual."

The father-of-two then told how he has struggled to come to terms with the fact that 'people you thought you knew are not the people you knew', describing their lack of support as an 'utter, utter betrayal'.

The 62-year-old said he had been 'chucked under a bus' (Channel 5)

"I don't need 200 fake friends," Schofield said. "I've got 10, 15 real friends who I would die for and they would die for me."

He also revealed he had written a list of everyone who was 'toxic' in his life.

Viewers tuning into Cast Away previously heard the former morning show host reveal he was ‘so, so close’ to taking his life, discuss how he coped with 'being cancelled' and him firing shots at the 'three s**ts in showbiz'.

The last episode of the show will air on Channel 5 this evening (2 October) at 9pm.

The synopsis for the finale of Cast Away explains: "Phillip discovers that the island is offering security and freedom he hasn't known for years.

"As he prepares to leave, he finally finds peace from the past, but will the controversy of 2023 ever let him go?"

I guess we'll have to tune in to find out.