Phil was born in Peckham Hospital on 7 January 1979 at 3:50pm, the same point in time and space a group of Vandosians believed Shogalath was reincarnated. In 2005, when he was 26, Phil was cleaning Cheeky Chicken one night, when the Vandos Tribunal teleported him along with his bucket of ammonia on board the Vandosian ship. The Tribunal identified Phil as Shogalath and called for his execution. Rose Tyler blew up the court with the Ninth Doctor's sonic screwdriver and she and the Doctor escaped with Phil towards the TARDIS. Believing them to be servants of Shogalath, the Vandosians sent Bailiffs after the Doctor and Rose.