Holly Willoughby is struggling after leaving This Morning and may not return to Dancing on Ice

Since her dramatic exit from This Morning after 14 years at the helm, Holly Willoughby has been lying low.

But fresh comments from her close friend Leigh Francis have sparked concern for the presenter, after he said she “isn’t in a good place” two months on from leaving the show.

And speaking to OK!, a source has reinforced Leigh’s remarks and claimed the mum-of-three is “struggling”
and doesn’t plan to return to her TV roots any time soon.

"Holly’s taken a huge knock,” the source said. “She was the golden girl of ITV, but she’s had a horrible drop. She’s at rock bottom at the minute. She’s really not good, she’s struggling – she feels people are judging her and she’s scared.”

Last week Leigh (aka Keith Lemon) – who worked with Holly on ITV2 comedy panel show Celebrity Juice – gave his worrying update on how the star is doing since leaving the daytime show.

“I don’t think she’s in a good place. She’s having a tough time,” he said. When asked what the pair talk about, the 50-year-old added, “I just text her. I don’t ask how she is, but I send her some messages to cheer her up.

“I just go, ‘Hope you’re OK’, and tell her about things I’ve bought. Like, ‘I’ve just wasted my money on some Spider-Man Crocs, Holly. Do you like them?’”

The former daytime host shocked the nation in September when she sensationally quit This Morning. She told fans in an emotional statement shared on her Instagram page that it was a “difficult goodbye”, but that she felt proud to have been part of such an iconic show. She also said she had to make the decision to leave for “me and my family”.

Holly’s popularity appeared to take a dramatic dive in September 2022 following the now infamously dubbed “Queuegate”, where she and her former co-host Phillip Schofield, 61, were accused of jumping the line to see the late Queen lying in state at Westminster Hall.

Then, back in June, Holly suffered another knock when Phillip was unceremoniously axed from This Morning after admitting to having an affair with a younger colleague. At the time, Holly was forced to deny she knew anything about the fling.

After taking a two-week break following the scandal, she returned to the show and was criticised for a “painful” opening, where she began with, “Hello. Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange sat here without Phil.”

Despite the backlash, she continued working with guest presenters before taking an extended summer break, during which she relaxed in her villa in Portugal with her husband Dan Baldwin and children, Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and Chester, eight.

But the star was dealt another huge blow and decided to leave her much-loved role when it emerged she was the alleged victim of a kidnap and murder plot.

Shopping centre security guard Gavin Plumb appeared in a pre-trial and plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court earlier this month. He denies plotting to kidnap her and inciting murder and will go on trial next June.

Leigh also mentioned last week that he “doesn’t know” if Holly, 42, will return to host ITV reality show Dancing On Ice in January, which she has previously presented alongside Phillip since the series first launched in 2006.

But our source explained that Holly’s friends and family have been a great support for her during these tough times.

They claimed, “Everyone’s worried about her. They’re trying to help build her confidence back to do Dancing On Ice.”

ITV is yet to confirm who will host the skating show’s upcoming series, but there has been reports that Stephen Mulhern could step in to replace Phillip, who confirmed his departure in May.

If Holly decides she isn’t returning, our source claimed next in line is Cat Deeley, who recently wowed This Morning viewers when she co-hosted with Rylan Clark.

“Dancing On Ice is waiting for Holly to make her decision,” our source said. “If she does come back, the big question is, who is she going to be partnered with?

“Producers at ITV are very happy with the way Cat Deeley has been. She’s one that they’re looking at. Everyone forgot how good and likeable she is.”

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