Willoughby’s return proves she’s our most resilient star

The former This Morning’ presenter stepped away from the public eye after undergoing a frightening ordeal. Now she’s returning to the spotlight. Katie Rosseinsky cheers her on

- Katie Rosseinsky

“It’s been a tough one.” Holly Willoughby’s recent summary of what has surely been the most difficult year and a half of her life was an understatement, to say the least. In October 2023, the queen of daytime television stepped down from her role as the host of ITV’s This Morning, after a disturbing plan to kidnap, rape and kill her was foiled. The impact on Willoughby, who bravely waived her right to anonymity at the start of the trial, was “life-changing” and “catastrophic”, according to her barrister.

The horrifying ordeal came during an already difficult time in her professional life, as Willoughby had only just been caught up in the workplace drama that engulfed This Morning that summer. Phillip Schofield, her co-star and close friend for almost 20 years, left ITV after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger co-worker. The fallout was huge, and, perhaps unfairly, seemed to tarnish Willoughby by association.

No wonder she chose to retreat from the spotlight for a while. But in recent months, Willoughby has made a slow but assured return to our screens, returning to her longstanding role as the host of Dancing on Ice and also helming ITV’s primetime reboot of game show You Bet! Now, she’s taking on her biggest job yet, as the host of Netflix reality show Celebrity Bear Hunt, which will be available to stream across the world. Somewhat aptly, it’s all about survival. It could hardly be further away from the staid world of UK daytime television – but Willoughby has always been good at reinvention.