Phillip Schofield’s survival show has struggled in the ratings, attracting only 1.5 million viewers. In contrast, his This Morning replacement, Ben Shephard, saw much greater success with his show Tipping Point, drawing in 4 million viewers.
Phillip Schofield has faced a setback in viewership, losing out to Ben Shephard, who replaced him on This Morning. Shephard’s show Tipping Point significantly outperformed Schofield’s survival show in the ratings.
Despite a significant promotional campaign and a prime-time 9 PM slot, ITV’s afternoon quiz show Tipping Point attracted more viewers than Phillip Schofield’s Cast Away. Aired last night on Channel 5, Cast Away peaked at 1.5 million viewers, while Tipping Point garnered two million viewers at 4 PM. This comes just 16 months after Schofield’s departure from This Morning, where he admitted to having an “unwise but not illegal” fling with a junior male colleague.
Billed as “an authentic and intense physical and mental challenge,” the three-part show Phillip Schofield: Cast Away aimed to give the 62-year-old the opportunity to share his side of the scandal that derailed his career. Schofield stepped down from This Morning in May 2023, followed by his co-host Holly Willoughby, who quit five months later. They were succeeded by Ben Shephard, 49, and Cat Deeley, 47.
Willoughby’s departure came after she revealed she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot, prompting her to leave the show for “the sake of her family.” Since then, her position has not been filled permanently.
This announcement followed Phillip Schofield’s departure, which occurred five months after the public revelation of his affair with a young male showrunner and reports of a strained relationship with his co-host.
Meanwhile, in television ratings, ITV’s The Chase garnered 3.1 million viewers, while Coronation Street reached 3.5 million. Additionally, ITV’s new drama Joan, starring Sophie Turner, peaked at an audience of two million.
While watching Cast Away on Monday night, viewers criticized the show as “boring” and “cringe,” with many stating they “won’t be watching the next episode.”
Viewers took to X to express their dissatisfaction with Cast Away, with one commenting, “THIS IS BORING AS HELL #PhillipSchofield.” Another viewer lamented, “Well that’s an hour of my life I won’t get back. Prob won’t watch the next episode of the pity party,” adding that it was entertaining to provoke Schofield’s supporters for an hour.
One viewer described it as “the most boring hour of television I’ve ever watched on Channel 5” and remarked on Schofield’s continued annoyance. Another added, “This #PhillipSchofield thing is insanely cringe.”
In response to the negative feedback, Channel 5 bosses are reportedly assessing public reactions and ratings before deciding on any future projects involving Schofield.
