Phillip Schofield received top tips for island living from former Madagascar survivalist Joanna Lumley as he made his dramatic TV comeback on Monday. 

The former This Morning presenter, 62, returned to British TV screens on Monday for the first episode of his Channel 5 series Cast Away - where he fends for himself on a remote island paradise, located off the coast of Madagascar.

Ahead of jetting off to the island, Phillip received a video message from Abfab actress Joanna - who embarked on her own Madagascar survival quest back in 1994. 

Joanna shared that Phillip should always keep his 'knives sharp' during his 10 days on the island, as well as urging him not to spend all day trying to find wood rather than prioritising food. 

She also reminisced about her own survival experiment, and how she turned her bra into a pair of shoes.  

'There's always time for some words of wisdom from my favourite survivalist,' Phillip said.

'Hello Phil this is Joanna Lumley,' the actress began. 'Listen Phil these are the tips I’ve got: Keep your knives sharp, don't spend much of the day trying to find wood or you won’t be able to eat anything. 

'When I was on the island I made a pair of shoes out of my bra - and I'd love to think that you could do something a bit like that, a little bit challenging, and bring it back so we can all look at it. 

'I shall be thinking about you a lot Phil. And actually I'm a bit jealous, lots of love.'

'Oh you darling thank you so much,' Phillip said after watching the clip. 'That's amazing.'

His much-anticipated TV comeback finally hit screens on Monday night, with the disgraced presenter vowing to tell his side of the story in an 'unedited and honest way.'

But mere minutes into the first episode of his Channel 5 series Cast Away, viewers were quick to accuse the presenter of being 'less remorseful than he claims,' after he made a supposed dig at his former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby. 

During the show, Phillip discusses his bitter parting of ways with ITV and This Morning, which he hosted for 21 years.

Phillip was ousted from This Morning in May last year, after he admitted to lying about his relationship with a much younger male colleague. 

Holly distanced herself from her former best friend and during a 'highly strategised' return to the This Morning sofa in June 2023, she told viewers she had been left 'shaken, let down and worried.'

When she returned, she began by saying: 'Hello, Firstly, are you okay? I hope so. It feels very strange sat here without Phil.'

Appearing to reference the now-famous speech on Cast Away, Phillip is seen having a BBQ with his family before heading off to the island. 

He gives out food to his wife Stephanie and their daughters Molly,  31, and Ruby, 28, and laughs: 'If you're ok, then we're ok, and I'm ok... are you ok?' 

No mention of Holly is made in the clip, but fans were quick to clock the jibe, with one branding Phillip's series an 'ego trip', before claiming he's clearly 'not as remorseful as he claims.' 

Posts on X included: 'Ooooh was that a cheeky dig at Holly Willoughby there Phillip? Are you OK; Are you OK... THAT HOLLY DIG!'

'Schofe's about to draw a smiley face on a volleyball and call it ''Willoughby''

Holly's said in the original statement that it: 'Feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil and I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have.

'Shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on and full of questions.'