Holly Willoughby’s war: ‘She’s drained from constant rows at home & work’

She’s adored by the public as the bubbly co-host of This Morning, but behind the scenes, friends say Holly Willoughby has been left feeling “drained” by “constant rows” at home and work.

Last week, it was revealed that Holly, 40, and her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin, 46, are embroiled in a bitter dispute with their neighbours over renovating their £2.8million family home in Barnes, London.

On top of that, it’s reported that her continuing legal dispute with her former agents over what percentage of her pay they should receive could also end up in court. And with the furore over the recent reshuffling on This Morning, friends say the turbulence has taken its toll on the TV host.

A source says, “The ongoing issues with her former agents, the changes at This Morning, and now the war with her neighbours has meant she has felt the strain at both home and work. It’s as if she can’t escape the constant rowing.

“Her upbeat, bubbly personality is a hit with the show’s fans, but underneath it all – at the moment – she is feeling drained.”

It’s not the first time the TV golden couple have upset neighbours over plans to alter their luxury home – this time with an application to add a first-floor extension to the six-bedroom house.

It will be the 14th planning application they’ve made since buying the four-storey pad in 2011 – each time facing opposition from their disgruntled neighbours, who have now slammed their latest plans for impacting on their privacy, the “constant noise from building work”, plus the detrimental affect it could have on the area’s wildlife.

One neighbour argued, “Having the noise all week, all day, for so many months is not the standard of living in such an expensive area to live. I do not pay taxes to get this level of disruption. It is not quality of life.”

The row has also led to Holly being criticised on social media, with one member of the public asking, “Why don’t they just move to a bigger home?” and another telling the star she should be “grateful she’s already got a lovely big house”.

Approval for their plans most likely hasn’t been helped by a 2013 row with their neighbours, in which Holly and Dan were accused of keeping neighbours up all night with their “drunken behaviour” – an accusation strongly denied by Dan, who sent over 50 emails to residents in the street, calling the claims, “Extremely rude and overly aggressive.”

The bitter battle coincides with recent revelations that Holly had reportedly hired a lawyer after a disagreement over finances with her former management company, YMU – who represented her for 13 years and were behind her biggest TV deals, including This Morning, Dancing On Ice and I’m A Celeb! The firm is believed to be demanding up to 15 per cent of earnings from her renewed contracts.

Experts recently told Closer that the move could potentially impact on her close circles – as the agency also represent her co-presenters Phillip Schofield, best friend Fearne Cotton, and Ant and Dec, whose partners Anne-Marie Corbett and Ali Astall work for the company.

Meanwhile, Holly – who shares Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and six-year-old Chester with Dan – was also said to be “ruffled” by a shake-up on This Morning. While she and Phil kept their roles as main hosts, Friday hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes were replaced by Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond, who have proved a huge hit with viewers, sparking soaring ratings.

The source adds, “It knocked Holly because it shows that nothing is forever. This year has been difficult for most people, but with so much going on with Holly, it really is a struggle.”

Check out: Inside Holly Willoughby and Dan Baldwin's family home

However, last week, Holly revealed some positive news. She has written a semi-autobiographical book called Reflections, which shares her “thoughts and musings” on what beauty means in the modern world. But in announcing the book, which will be released in October, she also confessed she found it “scary”, explaining, “Writing is such a personal process and between these pages you will find many little pieces of me.

“I can’t wait to share it with you all and yet can’t help but feel nervous at the same time. I think the more important something is, the scarier it feels.”

And the source says that she has found the writing therapeutic after such a turbulent time in her life. The insider says, “It’s been a healing process for her and it’s something she’s desperately wanted to do for a very long time.”

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The source adds how Holly’s aim is to “remain positive and focus on her children and moving her career forward”, but admits that the rocky time has led her to “reassess things in her life”.

The source says, “Holly’s an extremely happy-go-lucky person who takes things on the chin and tries not to let too much get to her, but there’s only so much she can cope with.

“With everything that’s gone on over the last few weeks, it’s taken its toll and she’s trying to focus on coping mechanisms she can use to ensure she doesn’t let it get on top of her. She loves working out and just having time out with her kids – doing simple things like baking or gardening – which helps take her mind off it.

“Luckily, Dan has been her rock as always, and Phil has also been amazing. She just hopes all these battles can be resolved soon, as she doesn’t like fighting at every angle.”

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