Phillip Schofield appears happy and carefree as he is spotted for FIRST TIME since Dancing On Ice return… after Stephen Mulhern replaced star amid This Morning affair furore

Phillip Schofield looked relaxed and happy as he stepped out for the first time since Dancing On Ice returned to screens.

The 61-year-old star quit presenting the show alongside his best friend Holly Willoughby following his departure from This Morning in May last year when his ‘ill-advised but not illegal’ affair with a younger colleague was made public.

Earlier this month, DOI returned with Holly, 42, at the helm alongside Phillip’s replacement Stephen Mulhurn, 46, but it has been reported that the disgraced TV star has not tuned in as he is ‘bruised’ by his absence.

During his outing on Thursday, Phillip went to a local shop, which he left laughing and grinning wildly at a rare sighting of the star.

According to The Sun, a source said: ‘Phil is still bruised by the whole row with Holly and the way it was played out publicly. He still can’t bring himself to watch This Morning and even listening to the theme song is very triggering.

Earlier this month, DOI returned with Holly, 42, at the helm alongside Phillip’s replacement Stephen Mulhurn, 46, but it was reported that the disgraced TV star has not tuned in as he is ‘bruised’ by his absence.

During his outing on Thursday, Phillip went to a local shop, which he left laughing and grinning wildly at a rare sighting of the star.

Phillip has been out of the spotlight in recent months since his affair scandal in May, which led to his departure from This Morning after more than two decades on the show

‘It seems unlikely he’ll be eagerly tuning in for Holly’s return to TV. Phil wants to move on and live a quiet life away from the spotlight while he tries to rebuild.

“He offered his support when the terrible kidnapping news broke, but it’s clear they haven’t been in touch since, so he probably didn’t speak to Holly prior to her return to the DOI.”

Phillip has been out of the spotlight in recent months since his affair scandal in May, which led to his departure from This Morning after more than two decades on the show.

After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally became public and he admitted he had been left ‘broken and ashamed’ but insisted he was not a groomer.

He said the affair “never came across” as an abuse of power because he and his lover were “buddies.” He told The Sun: “I was unprofessional once in a 41-year career. There is no excuse. No one has done anything wrong except me.”

In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the 61-year-old presenter said: ‘I didn’t do that, I didn’t look after him.’

‘There are accusations of all kinds of things. It never came across that way because we became friends. I do not know. But of course I understand that there will be a mass judgment, but keeping that in mind, I have never done that before.’

At the time, Phillip issued a number of apologies, including to his co-host of 14 years Holly Willoughby and his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe.

Holly and Phil presented the show last year. Holly co-hosted the show with Phillip from its inception in 2006 until 2011

After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally became public and he admitted he had been left ‘broken and ashamed’ but insisted he was not a groomer.

Phillip cut a demure figure as he left the store in the wake of the show’s comeback

He showed off his penchant for luxury as he wore a Moncler jacket during the outing

But he said his “deepest apology” for the fallout from the affair was to his former lover. He said: ‘It has brought the greatest misery into his totally innocent life, his totally innocent family, his totally innocent friends…

‘It has brought them the greatest sorrow. I am deeply sorry and I apologize to him as I should have known better. I should have acted the way I always acted. I shouldn’t have done it.

‘I’m sorry. And I will regret it forever. I will die regretfully. I am so deeply shocked.’

Following the scandal, he also resigned from Dancing On Ice, where he hosted from 2006 to 2014, before resuming in 2018 until his departure last year.

He started giggling loudly as he stepped out of the building

Phillip had no worries as he left the building with his groceries in hand

After much speculation about his replacement, Stephen was revealed earlier this month, with viewers praising the Catchphrase presenter for his debut appearance as regular co-host alongside Holly when the 2024 series launched.

Opening the much-talked-about show, Holly told ITV viewers: ‘We’re off!’, before asking fans to give her new co-host a warm welcome, adding: ‘And can we give Stephen Mulhern a warm welcome too? to welcome!’

Fans of the show took to social media to praise the pair, with many crediting Stephen for bringing “fresh energy” and injecting “real fun” into the episode.

One person wrote on Twitter: ‘Enjoyed Stephen Mulhern as presenter on #DancingOnIce alongside Holly. Brought some fresh energy to the show!’

The star was dressed casually in jeans and Converse paired with a padded jacket as he left the local store