Phillip Schofield eyeing comeback as he jokes during 4-hour dinner with Declan Donnelly in pics which will anger Holly

PHILLIP Schofield appears to be on the comeback trail as he’s seen laughing and joking with ITV royalty Declan Donnelly.

The pair were snapped together in London following a four-hour dinner in a restaurant close to their homes — but the pictures are likely to infuriate his former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby.

Phil’s night out with the I’m A Celebrity presenter comes after he  stepped back from ITV last May over an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger member of staff.

Friends have been pushing for Phil, 62, to return to the spotlight, restarting the career which saw him become one of the country’s most recognisable stars.

However, those close to Phil say he still has reservations.

A source said: “Since he left This Morning, Phil has been held up by the support of friends like Ant, Dec and Alison Hammond.

“They have all been rallying around him and their support, especially from Dec who is such a good friend, has really helped Phil.

“Some TV executives have been in touch with Phil about a possible return and his friends have told him he should consider it.

“Phil is still shell shocked by everything that happened last year and is happy at the moment to focus on rebuilding his life with the support of his friends and family.

“Whether he will make a comeback — whether it’s on TV or radio — is still undecided but the offers are there if he wants to pursue them.

“His friends have told him they will support him all the way.”

Their West London dinner this week was the first time Phil and Dec, 48, had been seen out together for the first time since the This Morning scandal broke.

Dec was joined by his wife Ali Astall while Phil took along his pet puppy.

Onlookers said the pals were in high spirits.

One added: “Phil and Dec were as thick as thieves and had clearly had a great night together.

“Phil said something to Dec that really tickled him and he was laughing loudly.

“They looked like any other friends would after having a fun night out together. Phil seemed totally at ease.”

Phil left the limelight following his only interview after the scandal.

He told The Sun about his regret over his affair and said he would “die sorry” for his actions.

Phil’s wife Stephanie, with whom he has two grown up daughters, has remained close to Phil.

Since he left This Morning, Phil has been held up by the support of friends like Ant, Dec and Alison Hammond

Source

Friends say she has been supportive of him.

However his relationship with Holly is finished, with the scandal rocking the ITV daytime show.

Phil added: “I’ve lost my best friend. I let her down. I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down.

“Holly did not know (about the romance). And she was one of the first texts that I sent, to say, ‘I am so, so sorry that I lied to you’.

‘Toxic culture’

“She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply, as well.”

Phil has remained close with friends at ITV, with Stephen Mulhern remaining in contact with him alongside a raft of other big ITV names.

Insiders said Phil was also still close with a number of producers and crew members from the show.

Following Phil’s exit last year, bosses conducted an internal investigation into claims of a “toxic culture” on the show.

Their report stated that of the 48 people who barrister Jane Mulcahy spoke to, only one knew of the affair.

Phil and Dec were as thick as thieves and had clearly had a great night together

Onlooker

The review also found that ITV made “considerable efforts” to find out the truth about the relationship but was “unable to uncover the relevant evidence” until he spoke about it publicly.

In her report, Ms Mulcahy added: “I have no doubt that senior management are absolutely wedded to the importance of an open culture.

“But this culture is still not filtering down to junior employees, many of whom remain convinced that to speak out will have a detrimental impact on their careers.”

Holly later stepped down from This Morning following an alleged kidnap plot against her.

In December The Sun was the first to reveal how Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd had been officially drafted in to replace them.

However ratings have not recovered since the Holly and Phil fallout and have dipped to around 650,000 per episode.