After a suspected kidnapping and murder plot, she was too scared to leave her house for weeks.
But after weeks of deliberation, Holly Willoughby was finally persuaded to return as presenter of Dancing On Ice when the show returns to ITV1 on January 14.
What finally made Holly feel confident enough to return to the show?
Web can reveal that Holly, 42, was visited at her home by Catchphrase presenter Stephen Mulhern, 48, who will co-host the show with her.
According to ITV sources, the pair had known each other for many years and because she knew he would be hosting the show, she was less afraid of making a comeback on television.
How Holly Willoughby was FINALLY persuaded to return to Dancing On Ice after she was 'too afraid to leave her house' following an alleged kidnap and murder attempt (pictured in January)
It turns out Holly's new co-host Stephen Mulhern will be co-hosting the show with her – he visited her at home while she was too scared to go out and made her less worried about making a comeback on TV made
Holly and Stephen have been friends for years – they looked almost unrecognizable in a throwback photo from Ministry of Mayhem taken 18 years ago and shared on Twitter by ITV
The pair co-hosted the ITV children's show Ministry of Mayhem 20 years ago.
One told the Mail: “Holly didn't go out in public until last week so it was impossible to meet anyone who didn't go to her.” She was terrified.
“So Stephen went to her place where they discussed everything. Then she started getting into the show. Stephen is so excited.
“They practically started together, so to have him standing by Holly’s side two decades later after such a difficult time is really special.”
Holly's planned return to live television after agreeing to host Dancing On Ice was revealed by Web on Thursday morning.
After weeks of debating whether to host the ITV skate show, she signed the contract over Christmas and is said to be “excited” to be back working on the show, which she hosted for many years with her former boyfriend Phillip Schofield.
ITV sources say the channel's bosses are “delighted” that she will join Stephen on the series, which will begin almost three months after she learned of an alleged plot by former security guard Gavin Plumb to kidnap and murder her .
An ITV insider told Web: “Holly is a star and everyone was so hoping she would decide to come back.”
“After a lot of discussion and a lot of thought, she came to the conclusion that it would be a good thing to bring some normality into her life.”
“There are obvious concerns about appearing on live television, her family is her top priority, ITV have been very understanding and have put no pressure on her at all.”
“They wanted to give her the time she needed, but it was a difficult decision for her.”
“Time was of the essence, but the bosses tried to remain calm.”
Ms Willoughby had always looked forward to January because it was her chance to dress up in fairytale clothes and co-host the show alongside her former This Morning co-star and friend Schofield, who she adored .
“As soon as Christmas was over, Holly got hooked on Dancing On Ice,” says a friend of the star.
Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, said: “Holly and Stephen are two of our most popular presenters. The pair's reunion, 20 years after their first appearance together as hosts of Dancing On Ice, marks the start of an exciting year for us.'
ITV also shared a post on Instagram saying: “Dancing On Ice news 20 years after they first worked together, Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern join forces for the greatest show on ice.”
Last week Ms Willoughby enjoyed her first foray into the public eye since quitting This Morning in October.
She put on a brave face as she joined her family for a Christmas dinner in south-west London, despite being too scared to leave her home for months.
ITV has shared a post confirming that Holly and Stephen will be the new presenting team on Dancing On Ice
After weeks of debating whether to host the ITV skate show, the presenter signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be “excited” to be working on the show again (pictured with Phillip Schofield in a still from the final series). )
ITV bosses are 'delighted' Holly will return to the show when it begins on January 14, more than two months after her last TV appearance (pictured)
Holly resigned from This Morning in October (pictured in September 2023) after she was eventually “duped” by an alleged “kidnap and murder plot”.
Although the star wasn't smiling, people close to her said she was “getting better every day.”
A friend told Web: “Holly hasn't wanted to go out to a restaurant or anywhere where other people will see her for a while now, she's stuck to private places, but little by little she's starting to get her life back.”
Ms. Willoughby's retreat from the spotlight extends beyond her television roles. She's even put her commitments at Marks & Spencer and L'Oreal on hold because she wants to be at home with her three young children.
Mulhern, who presents ITV game shows Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal, is a close friend of Holly and last week signed a contract to host Dancing On Ice after agreeing to follow in Schofield's footsteps.
However, ITV had no replacement for Ms Willoughby in the starting blocks, meaning all hopes rested on her.
Viewers laid the foundation for Holly's re-emergence as ITV's golden girl when she briefly returned to This Morning in a highlights episode that aired on Wednesday.
She was back at ITV1 for the first time since stepping down as This Morning broadcast a festive compilation of clips from the last 12 months, including one featuring Willoughby, originally shown in July.
In preparation for Holly's return as ITV's Golden Girl, viewers saw her briefly return to This Morning in a highlights episode that aired on Wednesday
The presenter sat alongside co-host Craig Doyle on the show's famous sofa and interviewed Hollywood star Idina Menzel about her iconic role as Elsa in the animated Disney classic Frozen.
On Thursday, Holly stunned viewers again when she returned to the show for an interview with Miriam Margolyes in a pre-recorded segment.
In the hilarious clip, This Morning descended into chaos as guest Miriam discussed “steaming her vagina” and her sex life, while also swearing twice live on the show.
During the appearance to promote her latest memoir, Miriam said: “I'm grateful, I can't walk, I fart all the time but I still walk!”
Holly and Phillip, 61, co-hosted Dancing On Ice from its inception in 2006 until 2011.
Christine Lampard then replaced Holly for the next three series until the show ended in 2014.
The series was then revived by ITV in 2018, with both Holly and Phillip returning as presenters until this year.
Phillip was then fired from ITV after admitting to lying about a romantic relationship he had with a former younger colleague and immediately ended his contract with This Morning.
Stephen Mulhern emerged as a leading candidate to replace Phillip after hosting spin-off series Defrosted for a year in 2006 and filling in for Phillip when he fell ill with Covid last year.
The TV presenter confirmed in October that he had been negotiating with his bosses to join as co-host following Phillip's departure.
Stephen told Web that it would be “amazing” to host the show and that it is always a “great time” to co-host with long-time friend and colleague Holly.
He said: “I used to do the spin-off show Defrosted and when I stepped in for Phil when he wasn't feeling too well because he had Covid, I really enjoyed it and it was so nice to be with Holly again.
“We had a great time together and a lot of the team were the same as when I was on the ITV2 show.”
“We're talking about it, but I promise you now that nothing is confirmed, but if it happens it will be absolutely amazing… if not, then look, it's not happening.” I promise you I would tell you if we would have confirmed it at this point.
“The lineup is the best it's been in a few years… I'm keeping the lineup just in case… It's a big staple and it's already there.”
Holly's future on the show had been thrown into question after she resigned from This Morning after she was ultimately left “unhinged” by an alleged “kidnap and murder plot”.
Her exit came after her long-term presenting partner Phillip Schofield was sacked by ITV after he admitted lying about a romantic relationship he had with a former younger colleague
The mother-of-three, who originally joined This Morning in 2009, released a statement saying she was leaving the show “for the sake of her family”.
Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of incitement to murder and incitement to kidnap the former This Morning presenter. The security guard remains behind bars after being denied bail.
A bail application was refused during a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, who was not present.
His trial date is set for June 24 next year.
The criminal case is said to have left Holly – once the golden girl of British television – in limbo.
Willoughby has also paused her £1million deal with Marks & Spencer as she continues to fear for her safety.
She has been managing the retail chain's debt collection operations since 2018, but told her superiors that she needed to take some time off from her contract while she dealt with her anxiety about the case.
Willoughby typically debuts several “capsule” collections per year and also offers fashion tips to shoppers on the store’s website.
The presenter has also frozen her seven-figure contract with L'Oreal as the face of Garnier Nutrisse hair color. She has not participated in any promotional activity of the brand.
It is not known whether she gave up any income from the contracts.
Stars preparing for the ice challenge this year include former Love Island winner and West End actress Amber Davies, former professional boxer Ricky Hatton, actress Claire Sweeney, Corrie star Ryan Thomas, Radio DJ Adele Roberts and S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt.
EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood, Made In Chelsea star Miles Nazaire, Olympian Greg Rutherford, ski jumper Eddie the Eagle, comedian Lou Sanders and Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi complete the line-up.
Holly Willoughby's year from hell
Queue
Holly and Phillip came under fire in 2022 when they were accused of having “VIP access” to skip the queue and walk past the queen lying in state
Holly and Phillip came under fire in 2022 when they were accused of having “VIP access” to skip the queue and walk past the queen lying in state. Which both the stars and ITV have denied.
After the monarch's death, Holly and Phillip attended the postmortem and claimed they were there to film for professional reasons.
But since no footage from that day was broadcast, critics accused them of queuing ahead of mourners who had waited hours for their moment to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Holly was reportedly “devastated” by the public response and the broadcaster's “decision to remain silent.”
In September, This Morning bosses denied show hosts Holly and Phillip “VIP access” and “passed past the lay-out Queen” while filming a segment for the show at Westminster Hall in London.
Despite the network's support, there is no denying that public perception of the couple has worsened as a result of the events.
There was also tension between Phillip and Holly, with studio insiders claiming the atmosphere was “terrible” and their relationship was “extremely awkward”.
The show received more than 400 Ofcom complaints from viewers over the scandal. A Change.org petition to ax Phillip and co-host Holly from This Morning following the scandal reached almost 79,000 signatures.
Booed at NTAS
Holly and Phil were booed as they accepted the Best Daytime award at the National Television Awards following the Queuegate scandal
Holly and Phil were booed as they accepted the Best Daytime Award at the 2022 National Television Awards following the Queuegate scandal.
Despite the criticism the broadcasters received, which some said was so severe it was affecting their mental health, This Morning still took home the daytime gong.
Although he didn't address the controversy, Phillip said the award “means so much to us every year, especially this year.”
The widespread backlash sparked concerns about her mental wellbeing, particularly after it was revealed Schofield would not be returning to his lucrative We Buy Any Car deal.
Phillip Schofield feud
Phillip Schofield resigned from This Morning in May after admitting he had a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on the show
Phillip made a bombshell confession to the Mail that he had a relationship with a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning while he was still married to his wife Stephanie Lowe.
Holly was at the center of the fallout from Phillip's affair as critics questioned whether she knew about her co-star's “deception” or whether she too was duped by the presenter. She later confirmed that she was in the dark about the affair.
Phillip also admitted lying to his employer ITV, his colleagues, his friends and his agents at management company YMU.
Holly slammed her former “bestie” following revelations of his affair – and friends said it was “traumatic” for her to discover his dishonesty.
Holly said in a brief statement that she asked him directly if the news was true and that it was “very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”
Sources close to the presenter said it was a “traumatic” revelation for the This Morning presenter and a “time of real sadness” as Phillip is “her very close friend”.
While she dealt with the revelations, Holly took a long semester break and returned to the This Morning sofa on June 5.
A tearful Holly returned to This Morning and immediately gave Phillip a kick. She began her speech with “Are you okay?” in a widely mocked monologue.
Holly admitted she felt “shocked, disturbed” and “disappointed” after her disgraced former co-host lied to her and her ITV colleagues.
Phillip said he told “no one” about his affair with his former This Morning colleague and confirmed in an interview with the BBC that Holly “didn't know about it”.
NTAs snub
Holly was left out of the TV presenter category at the National Television Awards for the second year in a row following the affair scandal.
Holly and Phil were on the longlist for the Best TV Presenter award alongside Alison Hammond, Dermot O'Leary, Rylan Clark and Martin Lewis, but only Alison and Martin made it.
However, despite the affair scandal, This Morning was nominated for best daytime show, but later lost to The Repair Shop.
Holly, who has hosted alongside Phillip since 2009, continued to host the show with a number of co-stars as MPs called on ITV bosses to deal with claims of toxicity and bullying behind the scenes.
Kidnapping and assassination attempt
Holly exited in October This Morning after a former Pizza Hut employee was remanded in custody over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her
Holly then left This Morning after a former Pizza Hut employee was remanded in custody over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.
Gavin Plumb, 36, from Harlow, Essex, is accused of offenses in connection with the broadcaster including solicitation to murder and incitement to kidnap, and allegedly contacting a hitman in the US and booking flights for him.
He has since pleaded guilty and will stand trial in June.
Insiders told Web that the alleged conspiracy caused Holly to quit and plunged the show into chaos.
Sources said This Morning was due to relaunch in January with Holly and a new presenter. Good Morning Britain's Ben Shephard was reportedly favorite to replace Phillip.
The TV presenter pulled out of presenting This Morning and her London home was reportedly guarded by police after Plumb was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap.
Holly's full statement said: “I let ITV know today that I will not be returning to This Morning after 14 years.”
“Thank you to everyone who has worked on the show over the years.” It’s so hard for me to say goodbye. You are incredible and I will forever be proud of what we have accomplished together.
“Thank you to everyone at ITV for your support.” Thank you to every guest who sat on our sofa. Above all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. They were so loyal every day, so supportive and the very best company.
“Richard and Judy said, 'We just care about this show, it will always belong to the viewers.' It was an honor to be a part of this story and I know this story still has many chapters to go. Unfortunately, I now feel like I have to make this decision for myself and my family.
“I’m going to miss you all so much.”