As her future at ITV remains in doubt, BBC bosses look set to pounce on Holly Willoughby in a bid to lure her to the broadcaster.
Corporation bosses have been keen to take on the presenter for some time and now have a clear way to keep up with her current on-air projects.
Ms Willoughby, 42, left her role on This Morning after 14 years on Tuesday, while her presenting job on Dancing on Ice is yet to be decided.
BBC chief executives are now discussing potential ways to lure the presenter to become the face of some of their biggest shows, sources say.
Ms Willoughby has been on the BBC’s radar for some time and attended last year’s Variety Showbusiness Awards as their guest of honor alongside director of content Charlotte Moore.
BBC bosses look set to pounce on Holly Willoughby in a bid to tempt her to switch to the broadcaster
Her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin already has strong corporate links with his company Hungry Bear producing the upcoming revival of Gladiator, which will be broadcast on BBC1.
Less than a year later, things have changed dramatically for the star, who has now left the long-running daytime show to focus on her family
The presenter confirmed on Instagram that she ‘will not be returning’ to the show on Tuesday
Her family image and lively personality are seen by the BBC as the perfect combination to be the face of entertainment on television.
Her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin already has strong corporate links with his company Hungry Bear producing the upcoming revival of Gladiator, which will be broadcast on BBC1.
He is also behind Michael McIntyre’s successful Big Show, which has aired on the channel since 2015, and Tochak, which launched in 2020.
The tentative move to woo Ms Willoughby was made last year amid public outcry over “queue gates” – which saw her and Philip Schofield avoid queuing with the rest of the public to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lie in state. .
Less than a year later, things have changed dramatically for the star, who has now left the long-running daytime show to focus on her family.
She received a significant pay rise to stay on the show following the scandal when Schofield quit in May after admitting he lied about his relationship with a younger co-star.
Ms Willoughby’s departure from the show comes after a difficult year for the star, in which she dealt with Mr Schofield’s affair with a younger co-star
Mrs Willoughby, 42, tearfully made the decision to call it quits with her family at the weekend before telling ITV it had ‘become too much’
Mrs. Willoughby in February 2020, when Mr. Schofield came out as gay live on the show
Holly Willoughby, who has hosted This Morning for 14 years, has announced via Instagram that she will not be returning to her famous sofa
ITV bosses were set to relaunch This Morning in January, with Mrs Willoughby set to co-host alongside a new permanent presenting partner, with Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shephard expected to be announced in the role.
The show has now been thrown into disarray with bosses looking for a brand new pair to host.
Its presenters, including Alison Hammond, Craig Doile and Josie Gibson, are currently holding down the fort.
Miss Willoughby left viewers and ITV bosses in shock this week when she announced her departure from the show with immediate effect.
The channel is still in the dark about whether it will present January’s Dancing on Ice as planned, with only a few weeks left until promotional trailers featuring the hosts, judges and contestants are aired.
Following the news of her passing this week, This Morning aired a tribute to her, with heartfelt messages from viewers and presenters.