Phil: ‘We were naughtier without an audience’
He’s ready for more giggles with Holly
Teaming up with his telly wife Holly Willoughby for the 14th series of DOI, Phillip Schofield is hoping for a few less calamities this year. Last year’s show was plagued with injuries, from COVID to blade wounds, which Phil says was “really tough”.
“You never want to see anybody hurt,” the TV presenter tells heat. “We have had people hurt, it’s incredibly dangerous. Ice skates are very sharp, we’ve had some nasty cuts. We’ve had big falls – a fall is always great fun, so long as nobody hurts themselves. That’s the bottom line. When you have a year like we had last year – it was tough to do.”
But Phil is most proud of the fact that the show is something for audiences to look forward to in the darker months. “You get into the new year – those dark days – and you know when it finishes, it’s going to be spring. For us, it’s the excitement and shine, the set is always so beautiful.” After having to do the show without a live audience last year due to COVID restrictions, the 59 year old says he’s looking forward to having one back again, although he jokes, “I actually quite liked it without an audience, because we were much naughtier during the breaks. It felt really weird, but not in a bad way. But it will be lovely to have everyone back for the atmosphere.”
Coming into the 16th year of presenting the show, Phil says he still can’t quite believe how much of a success it’s been. “When we started, I don’t think anybody thought it was going to be much of a success at all,” he admits. “We saw the ratings for the first show and looked at it and thought, ‘Is this us or is it something else? Oh, my God, look at the size of this!’ It took everybody by surprise.” ■
‘A fall is always great fun if no one gets hurt’