She’s enjoyed a well-deserved summer break in Portugal after a dramatic few months at This Morning and a fallout with her former co-star and best pal Phillip Schofield.
And now Holly Willoughby has returned to the famous sofa to resume her role as presenter, alongside a number of guest presenters – including Dermot O’Leary, Alison Hammond, Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson – on hand to offer her support.
But insiders tell Closer that the mum-of-three has been extremely anxious about her job on the flagship ITV show.
A source says, “It looks like Holly has had a dreamy summer away, but the truth is she’s been a bag of nerves with the weight of the world on her shoulders, thanks to the drama swirling around This Morning. It hasn’t felt like a proper break because she’s been in constant contact with her management team, talking about the implications of Phil’s conduct, and what it means for her and the show.”
In May, the future of This Morning looked uncertain when it emerged how presenter of 20 years Phillip had enjoyed an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a much younger colleague. Phil revealed he felt utterly broken and ashamed,” “deeply mortified” and that he “should have known better.”
Terminating his contract – including plans for him to host the British Soap Awards – ITV instructed a barrister to carry out an external review of what had happened.
In June, Holly – supported by co-host Josie – issued a statement on the show, telling viewers that she had been left feeling “shaken, troubled, let down” by the news.
And while reports say that Holly and Phil are still not on speaking terms, the whole debacle has made it hard for Holly to relax.
“The ITV investigation is still rumbling on, and Holly was ruthlessly mocked online in the aftermath,” the source continues. “There has also been constant speculation about whether she would keep her job.
“Holly’s been doing her best to stay calm, but there have been times where she has wondered if it was all worth it. There’s been so much stress piled on to her, all the while trying to be the best mum she can to her kids.”
Holly – who shares children Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and eight-year-old Chester with her husband of 16 years, Dan Baldwin – has been throwing herself into solo projects this summer, including running the website and newsletters for her lifestyle brand, Wylde Moon. She even made her acting debut and guest starred in an episode of Midsomer Murders – although her appearance wasn’t met with critical acclaim.
The source adds, “Holly is just hoping that now she is back on the sofa, the viewers can move on. She knows she hasn’t done anything wrong.”
