{"id":68507,"date":"2023-11-27T07:24:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T07:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordcelnews.com\/?p=68507"},"modified":"2023-11-27T07:24:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T07:24:11","slug":"holly-willoughby-is-struggling-after-leaving-this-morning-and-may-not-return-to-dancing-on-ice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordcelnews.com\/tv-movies\/holly-willoughby-is-struggling-after-leaving-this-morning-and-may-not-return-to-dancing-on-ice\/","title":{"rendered":"Holly Willoughby is struggling after leaving This Morning and may not return to Dancing on Ice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since her dramatic exit from This Morning after 14 years at the helm, Holly Willoughby has been lying low.<\/p>\n

But fresh comments from her close friend Leigh Francis have sparked concern for the presenter, after he said she \u201cisn\u2019t in a good place\u201d two months on from leaving the show.<\/p>\n

And speaking to OK!, a source has reinforced Leigh\u2019s remarks and claimed the mum-of-three is \u201cstruggling\u201d
and doesn\u2019t plan to return to her TV roots any time soon.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

"Holly\u2019s taken a huge knock,\u201d the source said. \u201cShe was the golden girl of ITV, but she\u2019s had a horrible drop. She\u2019s at rock bottom at the minute. She\u2019s really not good, she\u2019s struggling \u2013 she feels people are judging her and she\u2019s scared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last week Leigh (aka Keith Lemon) \u2013 who worked with Holly on ITV2 comedy panel show Celebrity Juice<\/b> \u2013 gave his worrying update on how the star is doing since leaving the daytime show.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think she\u2019s in a good place. She\u2019s having a tough time,\u201d he said. When asked what the pair talk about, the 50-year-old added, \u201cI just text her. I don\u2019t ask how she is, but I send her some messages to cheer her up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just go, \u2018Hope you\u2019re OK\u2019, and tell her about things I\u2019ve bought. Like, \u2018I\u2019ve just wasted my money on some Spider-Man Crocs, Holly. Do you like them?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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 \u201cdifficult goodbye\u201d, 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 \u201cme and my family\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Holly\u2019s popularity appeared to take a dramatic dive in September 2022 following the now infamously dubbed \u201cQueuegate\u201d, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After taking a two-week break following the scandal, she returned to the show and was criticised for a \u201cpainful\u201d opening, where she began with, \u201cHello. Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange sat here without Phil.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Leigh also mentioned last week that he \u201cdoesn\u2019t know\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

But our source explained that Holly\u2019s friends and family have been a great support for her during these tough times.<\/p>\n

They claimed, \u201cEveryone\u2019s worried about her. They\u2019re trying to help build her confidence back to do Dancing On Ice.\u201d<\/p>\n

ITV is yet to confirm who will host the skating show\u2019s upcoming series, but there has been reports that Stephen Mulhern could step in to replace Phillip, who confirmed his departure in May.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If Holly decides she isn\u2019t returning, our source claimed next in line is Cat Deeley, who recently wowed This Morning viewers when she co-hosted with Rylan Clark.<\/p>\n

\u201cDancing On Ice <\/b>is waiting for Holly to make her decision,\u201d our source said. \u201cIf she does come back, the big question is, who is she going to be partnered with?<\/p>\n

\u201cProducers at ITV are very happy with the way Cat Deeley has been. She\u2019s one that they\u2019re looking at. Everyone forgot how good and likeable she is.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n