TV presenters comebacks after controversy - Martine Croxall PM dig to Jeremy Kyle axe

Phillip Schofield has officially become the latest TV presenter to bounce back from controversy, as he is set to return to broadcasting next week. The former This Morning host will take part in a three-part survival series for Channel 5

Earlier this week, ex-ITV star Phillip, 62, revealed he’d be taking part in Cast Away where he will survive for ten days on a remote island off the coast of Madagascar.

He is due to publicly convey his thoughts and feelings after leaving ITV in May 2023, with the bombshell Channel 5 commencing airing on September 30. Phillip follows in the footsteps of comedian Ruby Wax and Joanna Lumley, who have starred in the first series of Cast Away and BBC’s Girl Friday, respectively.

Last spring, Phillip admitted to having an “ill-advised but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague behind the scenes of This Morning. After ending the extramarital affair, he apologised to his wife Stephanie Lowe and their two daughters.

But he isn’t the only celebrity to make a sensational TV comeback after controversy. Express.co.uk is looking back at how the likes of Piers Morgan, Jeremy Kyle and Martine Croxwell all regained their footing in the entertainment industry.

Piers Morgan

Between 2015 and 2021 Piers Morgan served as Susanna Reid’s co-anchor on Good Morning Britain.

His six-year tenure came to an abrupt end in March 2021 when he criticised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey live on air.

After alleging he “didn’t believe” various claims Meghan Markle, 43, made during the Oprah chat, Piers, 59, found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with ITV host Alex Beresford.

“She's entitled to cut you off if she wants to,” the 43-year-old claimed. “Has she said anything about you after she cut you off? I don't think she has, But yet you continue to trash her.”

Following the remarks, Piers walked off the GMB set and resigned from the programme later that day.

ITV News later reported that the mother-of-two had directly complained about the presenter’s comments to ITV’s CEO Dame Carolyn McCall.

Ofcom also launched an investigation into Piers’ remarks after initially receiving 41,015 complaints but later cleared ITV of any wrongdoing.

Following the journalists’ exit from GMB, he made his return to TV with Piers Morgan Uncensored, broadcasting on TalkTV (now known as Talk) between April 2022 and early 2024.

In February of this year, Piers Morgan Uncensored has been publishing pre-recorded episodes on YouTube.

Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross clocked up 13 years worth of service at the BBC between 1997 and 2010 - fronting shows such as The Hollywood Greats, Comic Relief and Japanorama.

But in 2008 the 63-year-old was suspended with no pay after appearing on a pre-recorded broadcast of The Russell Brand Show.

On an episode of the now-defunct BBC Radio 2 show, Jonathan and the show’s host left lewd answerphone messages on Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sach’s phone.

After comments regarding Andrew’s granddaughter Georgina Baillie were aired, BBC suspended Jonathan without pay while Russell, 49, resigned from the corporation.

Just over a year after releasing a statement apologising for his actions, the father-of-three left the broadcaster for good.

After his Friday Night with Jonathan Ross chat show came to an end in July 2010 he made his television comeback in September 2011 with ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show.

Over the last few years, the star has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown as a team captain, a judge on Britain Get Singing and the host for the 2024 Oscars Live on ITV.

Jeremy Kyle

After almost 14 years on air, The Jeremy Kyle Show was abruptly cancelled by ITV after Steve Dymond was found dead a week after failing a lie detector test.

In an inquest into the 63-year-old’s death, it was heard that Steve was “broken” and “distraught” after filming scenes for the daytime television show.

Five years on from the show’s axing, the hearing concluded that there was no “clear and reliable causal connection” between Steve’s death and his appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Following the axing of the long-running series, Jeremy, 59, has found success as a stand-in presenter on Piers Morgan Uncensored as well as co-anchoring on Talk Today with Nicola Thorp.

Between 2022 and 2023, he also presented Jeremy Kyle Live.

Martine Croxall

BBC News veteran Martine Croxall was initially taken off air for 11 days in 2022 after making comments soon after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation.

“Well this is all very exciting, isn't it? Welcome to our lookahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. Am I allowed to be this gleeful? Well I am,” she said at the time.

As per the BBC, the 55-year-old’s remarks and reactions during The Papers “caused a significant risk the audience could believe opinions were being expressed on the Conservative leadership contest.”

In February 2023, it was confirmed Martine would be one of the many employees losing her role at the corporation due to the BBC News and BBC World News channels.

After being axed, she was one of four senior female BBC journalists who brought a tribunal claim against the BBC, writes Deadline.

They alleged they had been snubbed for chief presenter roles during the “rigged” recruitment process during the merger.

In May, Martine returned to the BBC News channel for the first time since losing her presenting role.

Jeremy Clarkson

In March 2015, Jeremy Clarkson was suspended from the BBC after an alleged “unprovoked physical attack” on a Top Gear producer.

Five days after his initial suspension, BBC’s director general at the time Tony Hall confirmed the 64-year-old’s contract would not be renewed, claiming he could not “condone what [had] happened”.

In the wake of Jeremy’s exit, his Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May also quit the long-running motoring show.

All three signed on to present The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime for six seasons.

Meanwhile, Jeremy has gone on to present nine series’ of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? as well as front three seasons of Clarkson’s Farm.