Nadia Sawalha has hit out at Phillip Schofield’s TV comeback.
In a shock move, the former ITV presenter will return to screens on Channel 5’s Cast Away which airs next Monday (September 30). The broadcaster left ITV last year in the wake of an affair scandal.
He admitted to having an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague during his time on the show. He’s now set to try and survive on an island off of Madagascar for 10 days and is tipped to reveal all about the last 16 months.
READ MORE: Phillip Schofield facing spiders, killer fungus and ‘no food or water’ in TV comeback
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Loose Women star Nadia has since hit out at Schofield’s TV return, saying she “cringed” when she saw the news. She discussed it on her Coffee Moaning podcast with hubby Mark Adderley by her side.
(Image: COFFEE MOANING/YouTube)
She said: “[The trailer] was popping onto phones all over the place yesterday and everyone was agast. When I was first sent it, there was no message with it, so I thought it was a joke.”, reports the Mirror.
She chipped in: “I just couldn’t believe it.” She went on: “First of all, I cringed. If I’m honest, I absolutely cringed when I saw that video. I thought ‘that is so embarrassing’. That was my first feeling.”
(Image: Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited/PA Wire)
She said the former This Mornings tar has already has plenty of opportunities to share his perspective on the affair scandal. She remarked: “That’s interesting because I feel he’s told his side of the story. I feel like we’ve only heard his side of the story because he did that great big spread in the Sun [and another interview].”
She also commented on viewers’ perceptions of Schofield’s appearance on the show, saying: “He’s also very clever so I think he understands an audience and I think he knows how to speak to an audience. So I think, yes, he’ll be very, very careful.”
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Nadia didn’t hold back on her podcast, saying: “He lied to everybody at work. He left people to deal with his s**t, I feel, in my opinion.”
She questioned his consideration for his family and others affected by his actions, stating: “This has all got to be dredged up again.” Showing empathy for his wife, she went on: “Have you taken into consideration those people’s feelings? I mean, I have always felt really sorry for his wife. I really have […] None of us will know what the discussions were, and for his kids [and] it’s like, now again? You’re gonna tell it all again? “.
Nadia confessed that she had been “naive,” when industry insiders predicted his TV comeback, believing it wouldn’t happen. She stated: “There’s so many people he’s upset. There’s so much shame involved in this and before anybody dares say this is from a homophobic point of view – it is not, at all! I would be like this right across the board.”
The host further expressed her confusion over Phillip’s actions, emphasising the need for “really clear lines” when dealing with individuals in positions of power. Sharing her views on power dynamics within the entertainment industry, she declared: “I have always stood up and against people in positions of power and money and status. I will always stick up for the young person that was swayed by that.”
“[Phillip] is long in the tooth enough to know that this is going to stir everything up for all the people he’s lied to and all the people he’s hurt,” she commented during another part of the episode. Nadia continued: “I don’t feel sorry for [Phillip]. I feel sorry for all the people that are in the fallout around him.”
Phil broke his silence on the show via Instagram, explaining why he chose to participate in the self-filmed series. He posted: “Now you know how I spent my Summer! Alone for 10 days, no food, no water, no crew. My story of survival, both on a desert island and off it.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
