Since landing her role on This Morning 12 years ago, Holly Willoughby’s not only secured her place as the nation’s sweetheart, but is also the highest-paid female presenter in the UK.
And as speculation continues to mount over her future on the ITV show – amid the launch of her new wellness platform, Wylde Moon – insiders say the 40-year-old star is secretly relieved that Alison Hammond, 46, and Dermot O’Leary, 48, are being tipped to permanently replace her and co-host Phillip Schofield, 59.
Holly launched Wylde Moon – which features an online shop, a podcast platform, moodboards and style guides – in September, saying it was inspired because “I’d lost a part of who I was and that rediscovery has led me here”, adding that it signifies “new beginnings” for her. And last week, it was reported that Alison and Dermot – who filled in for Holly and Phil during their recent half-term break – were hailed as a “breath of fresh air” by the show’s bosses, who are in talks about offering them a permanent job following a “positive response” from viewers.
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Reacting to the latest reports, one fan said, “I prefer Alison and Dermot. I find this show boring without them, although I do like Holly and Phil,” while another added, “Dermot and Alison are the dream team!”
A source tells Closer, “Holly’s not shocked by the reports and she knows that producers will be thinking of who will take over from her and Phil – that’s how it works in the TV industry.
“As much as she loves the show, she knows she can’t be on it forever, and that one day the time will come to move on.
“While there are no immediate plans to leave, both she and Phil have been quietly discussing their exit plan for some time now.
“They’ve had a great ride, but they have both agreed they don’t want to get to the point where they become stale, so they’ve made a pact that they will bow-out together.
“When that time does come, it’ll be daunting doing things on her own without the This Morning family bubble, but it’ll be exciting too.
“Holly loves This Morning but she does want to be able to have the flexibility to do the simple ‘mum’ things she’s missed out on for so many years, like dropping her kids off at school.”
In June, Holly opened up about enjoying having more time at home with her family – husband Dan Baldwin, 46, and their kids Harry, 12, Belle, 10, and Chester, six – during the first lockdown last year.
Despite still being able to film This Morning, her other work commitments were put on ice, and she pledged to continue to manage her time better going forward.
She said, “For me, just having that time at home... The kids have really enjoyed me being back in the afternoons a lot more, and most afternoons I am, because This Morning is in the morning, but quite often I’ll have bits and bobs to do.
“So for me, just having that time at home, I don’t want to give too much of that back now.”
Check out: Holly Willoughby's This Morning outfits
Holly Willoughby: All her clothes from This Morning and where to get it cheaper on the high street
1 of 6TUESDAY 3 May
Today Holly has opted for a smart casual look. She's wearing a blue floral ruffle top, black trousers and black heels. What we're loving about this outfit is that you can dress it up with heels like Holly, or keep it casual with trainers. Holly's outfit costs more than £150 but we've found a high street dupe...What Holly is wearing:Ditsy floral contrast broderie ruffle blouse, Warehouse, £69.Clara trousers, Sezane, £95.**Where you can get Holly's look for less on the high street:**From New Look you can recreate Holly's entire outfit for less than £40...
2 of 6holly willoughby this morning outfit 3 may 2022
3 of 6WEDNESDAY 4 May
It's Wednesday and again Holly has opted for a smart/casual outfit. She's paired a white shirt, green midi skirt and nude heels together. Again this is a great outfit if you're heading into the office or going out for lunch with the girls. Holly's outfit is on the pricer side, so we've found a similar look that'll save you some cash...What Holly is wearing:Pure Collection linen shirt, John Lewis, £85.Suede wrap skirt, Jigsaw, £285.**Where you can get Holly's look for less on the high street:**From River Island you can copy Holly's style for less than £70...
4 of 6holly willoughby 4 may 2022
5 of 6THURSDAY 5 May
It's Thursday and for her final look of the week, Holly is wearing a blue and white floral dress. The This Morning presenter looks gorgeous and we're loving this dress. We're not the biggest fan of the £200+ price though, so we've found a high street dupe.What Holly is wearing:Fellini blue and cream tropical print cotton shirt dress, L.K. Bennett London, £299.**Where you can get Holly's look for less on the high street:**From Forever Unique you can recreate Holly's outfit for less than £60...
6 of 6holly willoughby this morning outfit
And last week, she opened up about feeling guilty about not taking her kids to school due to her working on This Morning. She said, “What I’m feeling guilty about, is that in some way I’m telling myself that I clearly don’t love my kids because I love my career more than my children, which is why I’m choosing to do this.”
Holly has had huge success fronting brands and campaigns, being an ambassador for Marks & Spencer, with many of the items in her five M&S collections selling out on their launch days. Her deal with the retail giant is said to be worth £950K.
And last week, Holly – who is said to be keen to become a wellness guru and emulate the success of Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow’s £200m brand, Goop – released her first product line, candles named The Wild.
Part of her brand includes a podcast, which was launched last month, reaching 107k followers, and Holly – who has also set up her own talent agency, Roxy – already employs 14 people to work across the platform.
She also released her first book last week, Reflections, which focuses on wellness, beauty and her “thoughts and musings”.
In it, she tells how her drive to be “perfect” left her “addicted” to feeling detached from reality – which led her to break free from her former management, YMU – who she is now in a £10m legal battle with over her contract – and set up Roxy.
She writes, “I wasn’t present in my life. Something was missing. There were moments when I felt a bit like a spectator of my own life. I wasn’t sad, I wasn’t depressed, it was just a feeling of being a little adrift.
“I hadn’t realised I’d lost a part of me when I gave up responsibility to someone else, but now I am regaining that.”
Announcing the book back in April, she confessed that having space away from the limelight during lockdown helped her to reflect on what’s important in her life, telling fans, “I’m finally at a point in my life where I can see a little more clearly”.
And while friends insist the star will miss the show when the time comes to hand over the reins, they claim she is seeing it as a positive.
The source explains, “This Morning has been a huge part of Holly’s life for so many years. Finally facing up to going it alone will be a huge change for her and she knows she’ll need to be brave.
“She has reminded herself that she has really loved being her own boss while working on her wellness brand so far. She realises it gives her more flexibility to manage her own time, so feels secretly relieved that she will have more control over her life when she does go it alone, which will enable her to be at home with her family for longer periods.”
Last week when approached by Closer, Holly’s reps and ITV both denied reports that Holly was leaving the show or being replaced.
Rumours began swirling earlier this year when the presenter was said to be in “crisis talks” over her future at This Morning, amid her legal battle with YMU, who were demanding 15 per cent of her earnings since parting ways in 2019.
Then in June, it was claimed Dermot would replace Phil when Phil quits, with it being suggested the 59-year-old may not renew his contract when it finishes at the end of this year.
Holly previously said she would leave with Phil, adding, “I can’t imagine This Morning without Phil, it’s us together.”
There were also reports of a “toxic” on-set atmosphere, which Holly and Phil both denied, and clear signs of a reshuffle when ITV replaced Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes’ Friday slot with Alison and Dermot, after the husband and wife team were let go to make way for more diverse talent.
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However, Holly is close friends with both Alison and Dermot. Alison revealed how Holly sweetly sent her a congratulatory gift on landing the new gig, while Holly has been friends with Dermot and his wife, Dee – who share one-year-old son Kasper – since their early days on the presenting circuit, with the BBC Radio 2 host serving as an usher at Holly’s wedding in 2007.
The source adds, “Both Holly and Phil have spoken to Alison and Dermot about the potential takeover and they’ve been openly talking about it for a while.
“To give them the full picture, Holly and Phil have been very honest about their trials and tribulations over the years, while insisting it will be the best career move they’ve ever made, and are quietly encouraging and helping them to prepare.
“Having Dermot and Alison ‘in training’ will make it a lot easier when the time finally comes to say goodbye, and they’re fully behind the move. They have been helping them prepare for when the time comes to take over the show full-time.”
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