Holly Willoughby is under 'zero pressure' to host Dancing On Ice

16 October 2023

Holly Willoughby is under “zero pressure” to come back to ‘Dancing On Ice'.

Holly Willoughby is under no pressure to return to work to host Dancing On Ice

The 42-year-old presenter handed in her resignation from the ITV1 daytime show last week bringing an end to 14 years on the sofa after a turbulent year for herself and the programme.

When making the announcement, Holly had been absent from the series due to a man being charged with soliciting to commit murder over an alleged plot to kidnap the TV star.

'Dancing On Ice' is due to return to screens in January but there is no expectation that Holly needs to “rush back” to work.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "The last 12 months have taken a real toll on Holly. Everyone around her agreed a decent break from work would do her a power of good.

“Work begins on ‘Dancing On Ice’ in December with promo, but nobody wants to place unrealistic expectations on Holly and have her feel she needs to rush back, especially because nobody knows how and when the court case will proceed.”

Holly - who has children Harry, 13, Belle, 11, and Chester, eight, with her telly executive husband Dan Baldwin, 48 - revealed she was departing 'This Morning' “for my family” after Gavin Plumb, 36, was found guilty of planning to "seriously harm” her at a court in Essex.

She wrote on Instagram: “This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive.

“To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You've been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day.

“It's been an honour to just be part of its story, and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family. I will miss you all so much.”

This year 'This Morning' was engulfed in a scandal when her former co-host Phillip Schofield quit the show after more than 20 years after admitting he lied to bosses about an affair with a younger male colleague.

Schofield, 61, was Holly's co-host on this morning but after departing ITV he is expected to be replaced by Stephen Mulhern, 46.