Fans fell in love with their genuine and relatable friendship after the duo met at the age of 17 as young children’s TV presenters. But as Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton followed their career paths and met partners and new friends along the way, the BFFs drifted apart.
However, after both celebrated their milestone 40th birthdays last year, a source reveals that Holly, 41, and Fearne, 40, have been rebuilding their friendship and leaning on each other more than ever.
An insider says, “Holly and Fearne are in touch more than ever after rekindling their friendship. They had grown apart over the years as their lives and careers took them in different directions, but now they have so much in common – bonding over juggling motherhood, their careers and their mental health.
“When they got back in touch, they both admitted fault over the fact they had gone so long without checking in with each other, and it quickly felt as though no time had passed at all. They were just as close as they always were.”
Holly was 14 when she was scouted as a model and Fearne was 15 when she landed her first telly gig. Both being so young, out for fun but also ambitious, they quickly became firm friends – and national pin-ups for teenage boys everywhere – as they navigated the world of TV and their growing fame together. As they got older their life was a whirl of cocktails, glamorous holidays, laughing and dancing – always together.
In 2007, they joined forces to host their own dating show, Holly And Fearne Go Dating, where they matched singles together – and fans fell in love with their natural chemistry.
The same year, Holly asked Fearne to be a bridesmaid when she wed her husband of 15 years, TV producer Dan Baldwin, saying at the time, “Asking Fearne was one of the happiest moments of my life.” Fearne in turn wept with joy.
Just months later, Holly and Fearne both landed roles on risque panel show Celebrity Juice – a daring career move for both that would see them work together for a decade – and later co-wrote a book, The Best Friends’ Guide To Life, in 2010.
Addressing their differences at the time of its publication – Fearne, a tattooed and edgy DJ who loves painting and yoaga and suffers from social anxiety, and Holly, a perfectly coiffed then mum-of-one (her son Harry is now 13), with mainstream fashion tastes – Fearne said, “Inside, we’re made of the same stuff. We’ve just got this different wrapping paper.”
But their friendship reached a bump in the road in 2018 when Fearne quit Celebrity Juice.
For years, the two women were less and less a part of each other’s world as their careers and family lives took them on different paths, and no longer working together on the ITV2 show seemingly severed an important link they shared.
Leaving the hit show wasn’t the first seismic life change Fearne had made. After 10 years hosting her BBC Radio 1 show, she left in 2015 to protect her mental health. She later launched her award-winning podcast, Happy Place, which sees her talking to guests about life, love and loss.
Meanwhile in 2006, Holly was scouted to host Dancing On Ice with Phillip Schofield, and after landing her role presenting This Morning in 2009, she had secured her position as daytime TV’s golden girl – and as a huge household name.
Holly went on to have two more children – Belle, now 11, and Chester, seven – while Fearne welcomed Rex, nine, and Honey, six – with husband Jesse Wood, who she married in 2014.
And while Holly was famed for her boozy nights out at TV awards and with showbiz friends, including Emma Bunton and Nicole and Natalie Appleton, Fearne admitted her social circle was “miniscule” and shared her preference to be tucked up with a book by 10pm. No doubt the fact that Jesse is sober played a part in her scaling down nights out, too.
But when Holly found herself feeling “numb and adrift” ahead of turning 40 last February, the source says Fearne was one of the first friends she reached out to.
“Fearne is the best friend you could ask for because she has advice on almost every topic thanks to her podcast, and sometimes Holly feels as though nobody knows her better than Fearne,” they reveal.
“They have so much common ground and history together and Holly has been relying on Fearne for advice on self-help. It’s really helped that she understands the pressures of the TV industry, too.”
Holly opened up about her vulnerabilities and insecurities in her book, Reflections, and also during an episode of Fearne’s podcast in November.
And after launching her own female-led management company, Roxy, in 2020, and branching out into spirituality with her website, Wylde Moon, last year, reports circulated that Holly could be set to leave This Morning for good after on-going tensions between its stars.
The source adds, “Fearne has said herself that she can’t handle doing live TV any more because it gives her anxiety, and is amazed that Holly still puts herself through it every day.
“Fearne’s been worried about Holly putting too much pressure on herself and is urging her to prioritise herself, her family and her work in that order. Holly feels she’s at a crossroads and there are days when nothing makes sense – but speaking to Fearne calms her down, and makes her feel braver.”
Proving their friendship has gone full circle, Fearne was also one of the first to celebrate Holly’s 40th by posting a series of heart-warming and hilarious throwbacks on Instagram.
She wrote, “How has time flown by so quickly. Your birthday today gave me the perfect excuse to delve back into our early twenties. So much fun and freedom and laughter and gin.
“Wishing you the best day Holly. Here’s to 40 darling.”