After a year of radio silence from former This Morning host Phillip Schofield, the presenter decided to break cover and return to the spotlight in the form of a social media update on Wednesday.
Schofield has taken a step back from showbiz since leaving ITV in May 2023 following an affair scandal that saw him admit to lying to bosses about an "unwise but not illegal" relationship with a male member of staff.
He was also reportedly at loggerheads with long-serving co-host and pal Holly Willoughby, to whom he admitted keeping his affair a secret.
However, while Willoughby has remained silent regarding Schofield's Instagram return, it appears bridges aren't entirely burned with other former This Morning colleagues.
Schofield's social media return saw him share a snap of his pet dog Alfie soaking in the Formula One.
"Thankfully, Alfie is a big @f1 fan," Schofield penned to his 2.8 million followers, followed by some loved-up emojis.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield used to front Dancing on Ice as well as This Morning
PA
Schofield decided to limit the people who could comment on the post, and one happened to be regular This Morning contributor Alice Beer.
She showed her support for Schofield by replying to the post: "Funny! Stan cannot see anything on the tv. Just doesn’t register."
And the former The Cube host returned to the social media platform to reply, saying to Beer: "@thisisalicebeer I’d read that some dogs just don’t see it.
"He loves F1, Star Trek and Harry Potter (not keen on Mandrakes [laugh emoji]) oh and he’s partial to a bit of news, but not if it’s too sad."
And Beer wasn't the only ITV star to show support for Schofield's comeback, with the likes of Rochelle Humes, Leigh Francis, Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson all liking the post.
The 62-year-old's return to the spotlight comes just days after he was pictured with showbiz pal Declan Donnelly by paparazzi.
Rumours have been rife ever since as to how and when Schofield may make his return to screens 12 months on from the affair saga.
In fact, a Celebrity PR specialist has branded Schofield's activity as an attempt to "repair his identity and regain trust" ahead of a possible TV return.
Kayley Cornelius, a Celebrity PR Specialist at Betfred, said: "After Phil’s controversy and the stark end to his This Morning career, there’s no surprise that he went straight into hiding for several months following the incident and left many speculating whether he would eventually return to TV or he would permanently call it quits.
"However, as tensions start to die down, there are now signs to indicate that Phil could be teasing his return to the big screens, and it could be as soon as this year.
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ITV This Morning stars react to Phillip Schofield's spotlight return
PA/ITV
"One of the key giveaways is the increased public sightings of Schofield. Initially, the photos of Phil after his resignation were sparse and seemed authentically candid, but in recent months, paparazzi shots appear more calculated.
"While I wouldn't outright claim they're staged, it's clear his team recognises that Phil's increasing public presence and interactions with celebrity friends naturally draw press attention. It seems they've shifted from their previous mission of keeping Phil out of the spotlight to a more embracing stance."
