ITV bosses remain in the dark over whether Holly Willoughby will continue to host Dancing On Ice after deciding to quit This Morning after 14 years.
After sensationally quitting the breakfast show on Tuesday, ITV bosses are still waiting to hear if Holly, 42, will be presenting the skating show with just weeks to go.
Although the star-studded show doesn’t start until January, promotional trailers, featuring the judges and presenters, are due to air in December – in just six weeks’ time.
Big-name contestants have already been announced, including Ricky Hutton, Greg Rutherford and Hannah Spirit.
Before Holly’s departure, she was set to present the program despite former co-host Philip Schofield’s dramatic exit from ITV after he admitted lying about an affair with a younger co-star back in May.
Up in the air: ITV bosses remain in the dark over whether Holly Willoughby, 42, will continue hosting Dancing On Ice after deciding to quit This Morning after 14 years (pictured in 2023)
Icon: After sensationally quitting the breakfast show on Tuesday, ITV bosses are still waiting to hear if Holly will present the skating show with just weeks to go
Sensational: The search for a new duo to present This Morning is now underway with a major relaunch in January
The search for the new duo to present This Morning is now underway with a major relaunch in January.
Good Morning Britain’s Ben Sheppard was expected to become Holly’s new presenting partner, but his role is now unclear as he will have to be good for her replacement.
The chaotic turn of events comes just weeks before the publication of an external report, carried out by Jane Mulcahy CC, into ITV’s handling of the Schofield case.
ITV’s top staff could be named in the report, which could affect a number of careers.
It is uncertain whether Holly will return to the broadcaster at all, with ITV boss Kevin Ligo releasing a vague, non-committal statement about her future at the channel.
Kevin said: ‘She remains a much-loved member of the ITV family and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.’
Holly dramatically stepped down from her long-standing role on Tuesday, telling This Morning bosses of her decision just hours before announcing the news on Instagram.
The former This Morning star said she made the “difficult” decision to leave the daytime show “for me and my family”.
In the dark: Before Holly’s departure, she was set to present the program despite former co-host Philip Schofield’s dramatic exit from ITV after he admitted lying about an affair with a younger colleague back in May (pictured with Phil at DOI 2023 )
Who’s next? Ben Sheppard (left) was expected to become Holly’s new presenting partner, but his role is now unclear as he will need to be a good match for her replacement
Looming: It’s uncertain whether Holly will return to the broadcaster at all, after ITV boss Kevin Ligo released a vague, non-committal statement about her future at the channel
Will he come back? Kevin said: ‘She remains a much-loved member of the ITV family and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.’
Holly has three children, Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and nine-year-old Chester, with her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin.
Her sudden departure has left the already beleaguered daytime show in chaos as they continue to deal with the fallout from the scandal surrounding Philip’s departure in May.
Fresh from her summer break, she signed a lucrative new deal with the broadcaster to continue in the role.
Richard Medley, who originally presented This Morning alongside wife Judy Finnigan when it launched in 1988, offered his support to Holly following her decision to leave the show.
He said: “I think and Judy agrees with me… Holly did a very brave, wise and brave thing.
“We know that Holly honestly puts family first, her family first, and her career second, and that’s really the order.”
“People watching don’t know that, they just see Holly the professional, but she puts it first.
“She’s going to focus on them for a while.” He’ll be back, not on This Morning, but he’ll be back to do something else.
Where it all began: Richard Madeley (top right), who originally presented This Morning alongside wife Judi Finnigan (bottom left) when it launched in 1988, offered his support to Holly following her decision to leave the show (pictured in 2009 )
Tribute: Holly’s former This Morning co-stars Craig Doyle (left) and Rochelle Humes (right) paid tribute to her on Wednesday’s show and shared messages of support from the public
“But I think she did the right thing for her mental health department.”
Holly’s former This Morning co-stars Craig Doyle and Rochelle Humes paid tribute to her on Wednesday’s show and shared messages of support from the public.
Rochelle began: ‘We want to start by sending our love, best wishes and respect to our Holly.’
While Craig added: “On behalf of everyone here, in front of and behind the camera, we just loved working with Holly and she made coming to work so much fun. We are all really, really sad. We will really miss him.’