Holly Willoughby gets offered a lucrative deal to return to host Dancing On Ice as hit show is confirmed for a new season
Holly Willoughby has been offered a lucrative deal by ITV bosses to return as host of Dancing On Ice next year in a bid to keep her at the channel.
For the first time in two decades, the presenter will not be signed to a show on the channel after the skate series finale tonight, leaving the door open for their rivals to swoop in and hire her.
But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the program will return for another season, and that they are already in talks with Ms Willoughby about her anchoring it alongside Stephen Mulhern, in a clear sign for other broadcasters to keep their hands off their star.
A source close to the show said: ‘Dancing On Ice will definitely return in 2025 and the plan is for Holly to host the show.
‘Contracts are being negotiated but the heads love her and they know there are others who would love to sign her up but ITV love her and they want to keep her a big part of the ITV furniture for years to come.
Holly Willoughby has been offered a lucrative deal by ITV bosses to return as host of Dancing On Ice next year in a bid to keep her at the channel
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the program will return for another season, and that they are already in talks with Ms Willoughby about her anchoring alongside Stephen Mulhern, in a clear sign for other broadcasters to keep their hands off their star
“Holly really has a love for the show. It has really catapulted her career from a children’s presenter into adult television, so ITV is very much hoping she agrees to the deal.”
Sources say the upper echelons of ITV are also looking at other big shows for her to present after she quit This Morning after 14 years last October following a plot to kidnap and kill her, as the BBC is said to be determined to hire her hosting more of their programs.
Meanwhile, skating experts Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean are said to be ‘super excited’ about the show’s return, as their tour to celebrate 50 years of skating together will begin shortly after the end of next year’s series.
A friend of the Olympic champions said: ‘Dancing On Ice will fit in nicely with their tour so they are really keen to return next year. It all falls into place perfectly for them.’
After tonight’s show, Ms Willoughby, 43, will be free of commitment to ITV for the first time in 20 years.
Her stint with the channel began in 2004 when she presented Ministry of Mayhem, the show’s title was changed to Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown and in 2006 she began co-hosting Dancing On Ice with Phillip Schofield.
A source close to the show said: ‘Dancing On Ice will definitely return in 2025 and the plan is for Holly to host it’
“Holly has a love for the show, it has really catapulted her career from children’s presenter to adult television, so ITV is very much hoping she agrees to the deal,” the source added.
In 2009 she joined Schofield on This Morning and also reprized the legendary show Surprise, Surprise for four series.
Ms Willoughby also hosted the Xtra Factor and Streetmate on ITV2, as well as Holly & Fearne Go Dating with her friend Fearne Cotton. The star was also a panelist on the now defunct Celebrity Juice.
Tomorrow (MON) Cat Deeley – This Morning’s replacement for Mrs Willoughby – will start after landing in London yesterday morning (SAT).