Phillip Schofield hints at TV comeback as he's spotted dining with Dec Donnelly

Phillip Schofield was spotted sharing a laugh with Declan Donnelly after a four-hour dinner near their homes in London.

Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall was also at the night out and the pally images have stoked rumours that Schofield could be plotting a television comeback.

The 62-year-old former host of This Morning has been off air since stepping back last May after admitting an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger male staff member.

Ant and Dec have supported Schofield since his departure. Schofield has described himself as being “near suicidal” and has lost the friendship of former co-host Holly Willoughby.

The Sun published the photos from Friday night which show the three in fits of laughter with Schofield taking his dog for a walk. The three appeared calm and relaxed on what is said to be their first rendezvous since the This Morning scandal.

Schofield has not worked since leaving This Morning and had said that he thought his career was over, seeing nothing ahead of him except for “blackness and sadness”.

There has been no confirmation that he will be working on any forthcoming projects but his continued friendship with Donnelly does at least show he has connections.

This Morning is now presented by Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley from Monday to Thursday with Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond covering Fridays.

Since announcing that he was gay in 2020, Schofield has separated from his wife Stephanie Lowe but the pair are not divorced and co-parent their two daughters.

“My girls saved my life,” Schofield said last year. “They haven’t left me for a month, they’ve been by my side for a month because they’re scared to let me out of their sight [...] and they said to me ‘Don’t you dare do this on [our] watch.’”