After an already difficult year, Holly Willoughby has suffered more heartache after her close friend Stephen Mulhern’s recent health scare. As well as worrying for her pal, we’re told Holly, 43, is now terrified she’ll have to host the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice without him.
A source tells Closer, ‘Holly has told Stephen that he’s not alone and he’s far more mportant than a TV show. While she’s desperately worried about him, Holly doesn’t feel ready to go it alone – although, if it comes to that, she will. ITV bosses are having meetings to discuss Stephen’s future on the show.’
Incapable of staying off our TV screens for long, and despite a rough year, Holly is also back with You Bet! – a brand-new rebooted game show that she’s hosting alongside long-time friend, Stephen. She’s also gearing up for her return to Dancing On Ice – a show she originally hosted with Phillip Schofield and now hosts alongside Stephen – but his recent health scare has worried her that she may have to go on alone.
It has been a difficult period for TV presenter Stephen, 47. In late November, he collapsed at a Pizza Express in Berkshire and was rushed to hospital. It has now been reported that earlier that day, Stephen underwent a procedure that required an anaesthetic, and he suffered a bad reaction to some medication after enjoying some alcohol during his meal. He’s currently holed up in his lavish £1.6million west London pad recovering. Just a week previously, he’d suffered a personal tragedy – the loss of his beloved dad, Christopher. The loss understandably hit the Catchphrase host hard, as he was said to be very close with his father.
For Holly, Stephen was there for her when her friendship with Phil infamously fell apart. The pair had hosted Dancing On Ice together for a total of 12 series, but following Phil’s scandalous exit from our TV screens in 2023, Stephen stepped in to co-host alongside Holly. Now, with things up in the air, Holly is said to be feeling nervous.
The source continues, ‘She’s desperately worried about Stephen, and despite her nerves about potentially presenting alone, she’s putting that to one side and is firmly focused on Stephen and his health first.’
Stephen and Holly first crossed paths two decades ago. They met back in 2004 on the set of the CITV show Ministry Of Mayhem – their first cohosting gig. Although the show only lasted two years, it kicked off a lifelong friendship. Since then, they’ve remained in each other’s lives and Stephen has been there for all of Holly’s big moments, including her wedding to Dan Baldwin – the producer of the show she and Stephen worked on – as well as the birth of her children, Harry, 15, Belle, 13, and Chester, 10.
In 2019, Holly opened up about the good old days in children’s TV alongside Stephen, saying, ‘There were times when we went straight from the hotel bar to going live on air. Everyone in children’s TV drinks until 5am. If you mess up, no one cares.’
Stephen previously lifted the lid on how close the pair are, revealing in 2014, ‘If I had a problem, I’d go to Holly, and if I want advice that makes no sense and probably makes things worse, I’ll ask Ant and Dec.’
The source tells Closer, ‘Stephen was and still is Holly’s rock – a true friend. He was there throughout everything, through thick and thin, for “the good, the bad, and the ugly” as Stephen always says.’
Holly has also had a tough couple of years – notably when a former security guard was sentenced to jail a few months ago after his obsession with the presenter resulted in him plotting to kidnap and kill her.
She’d also had a very public falling out with former cohost and best friend Phillip Schofield, who allegedly
branded her ‘the witch’ and made a series of subtle digs towards her on his Channel 5 show Cast Away. With this latest emotional blow, it seems Holly can’t shake the feeling of being ‘cursed’.
The source says, ‘She has told pals that she thinks she’s cursed, as it’s felt like blow after blow
for her recently. All of this has had her questioning if Stephen’s illness is yet another bad omen.
Of course, Dan and her friends have rallied around to reassure her, but you can understand why Holly’s in an emotional free fall – just as the ground settles, it opens up beneath her feet again.’
However, the former This Morning star is determined to get Stephen through his tough
time and have him fit and ready in time for the show. The source shares, ‘Holly says laughter has always been the best medicine for her and Stephen, and she’s determined to help him find that joy again.’