Holly Willoughby teased her return to TV on Instagram last week, with rumours her new game show You Bet could air in a matter of weeks. But for Holly, the moment was bittersweet, as her comeback has left her vulnerable to new attacks from her former BFF Phillip Schofield.
After Phillip, 62, reportedly branded his former This Morning co-host ‘the witch’ and made a series of subtle digs towards her on his Channel 5 show Cast Away, sources tell Closer Holly, 43, is only too aware that another showdown could be imminent.
‘Holly is excited but nervous about returning to TV,’ our source reveals. ‘It hasn’t been long since Phil unleashed his tirade against the people he thought brought him down and she’s very aware it won’t be the last we hear from him. However she’s determined not to let that hold her back as she moves forward with her projects.
‘Her closest pals have formed a protective ring around her. They know Phillip could be on a mission to bring her down and there could be a lot more to come from him, but her close-knit circle is doing its utmost to stay upbeat and help her ignore the rumours. They’ll be on standby to support her should anything happen.’
Holly quit This Morning in October 2023 just months after her former co-host Phillip left the show in May after details of his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair became public. Her departure came after it was revealed she was the subject of a horrific kidnap, rape and murder plot by former security guard Gavin Plumb, 37, who is now serving a life sentence for his part in the evil scheme.
After her brief return to TV in January 2024 to host Dancing On Ice, Holly has understandably kept out of the public eye. But this month she’s set to return with her new show alongside pal Stephen Mulhern. She’ll also be fronting Dancing On Ice again in January, while her show with Bear Grylls is set to air on Netflix in February.
But after Phillip seemingly made digs at Holly on his TV return Cast Away in September – mocking the ‘Are you OK?’ intro she gave on This Morning after his departure, as well as alluding to her being one of the ‘three s***ts of showbiz’ – Holly is worried her return to screen could unleash more from him.
The current state of the pair’s relationship, which formed around 2006 when they began hosting Dancing On Ice together, is in huge contrast to just a few years ago when they were inseparable. Often holidaying together in Portugal, where they both have properties.
Mum-of-three Holly – who shares sons Harry, 15, and Chester, 10, as well as daughter Belle, 13, with husband of 17 years Dan Baldwin – has been leaning on her remaining close friends, including former All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, 49.
It has also been reported that Holly has rekindled her friendship with former BFF and fellow Celebrity Juice team captain Fearne Cotton after the pair reconnected over their respective wellness brands – Wylde Moon for Holly and Happy Place for Fearne, 43.
Our insiders say Holly’s inner circle are feeling incredibly protective of her at the moment as they prepare for Phillip’s next move. ‘Holly has a ring of besties around her who she calls her “Crusaders”,’ we’re told. ‘Leigh Francis [aka Keith Lemon] is at the forefront – he won’t let anyone touch Holly. And, of course, her husband Dan is her ultimate rock. He’s a forcefield in himself, and he has all access to his wife covered.
‘There’s also Christine Lampard who has been amazing at keeping Holly sane and bringing the laughs, and Fearne Cotton is her right-hand woman. Steven Mulhern and Emma Bunton have also been amazing supports during this time.’
For his part, Phillip – who shares daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28, with wife Stephanie Lowe – has now unfollowed and deleted all traces of Holly on his Instagram amid rumours that he could be set to release a tell-all memoir about his career at ITV. As for a return to TV, however, after Cast Away Phillip has squashed any speculation that he might be back as a regular presenter saying, ‘I don’t think I want to do it any more. Look, I love telly. I’ve got telly in my bones. But I won’t sit on a sofa again, I’m not going to do that again.’
‘Holly knows how Phillip operates and believes he still has more to say,’ our source continues. ‘He clearly has a lot of bitterness and seemingly feels Holly is partly to blame for his downfall. Part of Holly is terrified the he will try to ruin her name publicly, so she’s thankful to be surrounded by such good people who support and protect her.
‘In a perfect world Holly would meet Phillip to talk face to face, but it’s past that now. It really hurts, how it all turned out, but she just wants to move forward and focus on the future, not the past.’
