Holly Marie Willoughby (/ˈwɪləbi/WIL-ə-bee; born 10 February 1981)[1][2] is an English television presenter, author and model. She has presented various television shows for ITV, most notably This Morning (2009–2023) and Dancing on Ice (2006–2011, 2018–present).
In 2000, Willoughby won an audition for a show on CITV featuring S Club 7 called S Club TV.[6] In this show actors represented an alternative S Club.[7] She also appeared in a show called S Club 7: Artistic Differences playing a character called Zoe with the regular members of the band. Willoughby worked as a receptionist for a while and then as a runner for the defunct shopping channel Auction World TV.[citation needed]
Willoughby also took on menial jobs and started an Open University course in psychotherapy. Then eventually, she found work as assistant manager during which time she persuaded a friend to make a showreel of her. This secured her an agent who then contacted the BBC.[6] Later in 2002, Willoughby presented a factual entertainment programme for children called Xchange and went on to host several other children's shows for CBBC: X-perimental and CBBC at the Fame Academy (CBBC's version of the BBC talent show Fame Academy).
Willoughby's first role as a children's entertainer came when she rejoined CITV in 2004 to co-present the entertainment show Ministry of Mayhem which aired on Saturday mornings. The programme competed against CBBC's Dick & Dom in da Bungalow.[8] On this programme she met her future husband Dan Baldwin, one of the show's producers. In 2006, the show's title was changed to Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown in order to reflect the popularity of its co-presenters, Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern.[9]
In 2005, Willoughby presented Feel the Fear, a children's entertainment programme in which the presenters are set unnerving challenges. She has also had a number of minor appearances on other children's programmes. Willoughby presented CD:UK for a short while in the spring of 2005, replacing Cat Deeley before Myleene Klass, Lauren Laverne and Johny Pitts became the regular presenters. In recognition of work as a children's television presenter, Willoughby won a BAFTA Children's Award in 2006.[10]
In 2006, she was chosen to co-present, with Phillip Schofield, the television show Dancing on Ice,[11] in which celebrities are partnered with professional dancers to learn ice-dancing routines which are judged by a panel of experts and voted on by audiences. Willoughby remained in the role until 2011 due to new commitments. She was replaced by Christine Lampard.[12][13]
In 2007, she took over from Davina McCall as the presenter of Streetmate, a dating game show during its transition from Channel 4 to ITV2. Willoughby hosted the show for its final series. In the same year, Willoughby co-presented Holly & Fearne Go Dating with Fearne Cotton. The show saw the two hosts attempt to find dates for single people that they meet around the UK.
Since 2008, Willoughby appeared as a team captain on Celebrity Juice, presenting series 1–11 and 13–23 (taking a break in series 12 due to maternity leave).[14] She left the show after 12 years in May 2020.[15]
2009–present
Willoughby on the set of This Morning in 2013, a programme she co-presented between 2009 and 2023
Willoughby began co-presenting ITV's This Morning with Schofield in September 2009 until his departure in May 2023, replacing Fern Britton.[16] Willoughby presented the programme from Monday to Thursday mornings until her departure in October 2023. She and Schofield had a close friendship, with Schofield describing her[when?] as "the sister he never had",[citation needed] and they presented the programme together from Monday to Thursday mornings until Schofield's departure in May 2023 and Willoughby's departure four months later in October 2023.
In 2011, Willoughby co-presented charity telethon Text Santa with Ant & Dec. She returned to co-host the show with Schofield in 2012, 2013 and 2015.[17] On 24 March 2012, Willoughby began presenting The Voice UK with Reggie Yates. She decided to leave the show after the second series and was replaced by Emma Willis in 2014.[18] In 2012, Willoughby began hosting a revived version of Surprise Surprise.[19] A second series began airing on 15 September 2013, a third on 22 October 2014 and a fourth on 21 June 2015. In 2015, Willoughby presented the sports-based panel show Play to the Whistle on ITV. The first series aired for seven episodes beginning on 11 April 2015. A second series aired for six episodes, beginning in April 2016[20] and a third series aired in 2017.[21]
Willoughby has written a series of children's books with her sister Kelly. Their debut book School for Stars: First Term at L'Etoile became the UK's highest-selling children's book of 2013.[24]
In August 2017, it was reported Willoughby had received a £200,000 pay rise to match the salary of Schofield.[25] She returned to present the new series of Dancing on Ice with Schofield in January 2018.[26] Willoughby is a brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer and Garnier,[27][28] and a former ambassador for Diet Coke in the UK.[29][30] In September 2021, Willoughby founded a wellness and lifestyle brand and company called Wylde Moon.[31]
In December 2019, during the 2019 general election, Willoughby and Schofield were criticised by some viewers for a "giggly" interview with then prime minister Boris Johnson. The co-hosts' decision to take a selfie with Johnson was also criticised.[citation needed] Some viewers argued that the pair had been more critical when interviewing Jeremy Corbyn, who faced repeated calls to apologise for accusations of antisemitism in the Labour Party.[34]
Energy bills "spin to win" complaints
On 5 September 2022, This Morning included a new prize of "energy bills" in their regular "spin to win" game. The prize equated to four months of payments, up to £400 each month. Schofield asked the first qualifying contestant if they were "worried" about energy bills and the contestant replied that "it's absolutely murder" having a prepayment meter.[35] Coverage from Sky News asked "Is Russia using Phillip Schofield for propaganda?" after the game was reported on Russian state television.[36]
Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy tweeted criticism of the prize.[37] Ofcom received 170 complaints about the segment. Ofcom's broadcasting code states that: "We would strongly advise broadcasters not to present a monetary prize as a possible resolution of financial difficulty."[36] On 7 September 2022, the prize was removed without comment from ITV.[38]
The lying-in-state of Elizabeth II
Amid the death and state funeral of Elizabeth II on 17 September 2022, Willoughby and Schofield drew criticism on social media for not joining the queue for the lying-in-state of the queen with the public, when filming in Westminster Hall. ITV said that Schofield and Willoughby were escorted from the press gallery by government staff and did not file past the Queen's coffin. Some social media users contrasted this with the actions of figures including David Beckham and Susanna Reid, who queued for many hours with members of the general public.[39]
Response to Schofield affair
Willoughby said in response to Schofield's departure from This Morning: "It's been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa won't feel the same without him." A broadcasting executive subsequently told The Times that Willoughby had given ITV an ultimatum that either she or Schofield had to leave the programme.[40] In a statement to the Daily Mail on 26 May, Schofield admitted that, before leaving his wife in 2020, he had carried on an extramarital affair with a younger male ITV co-worker.[41][42]
Willoughby, who had previously said she was hurt that Schofield had lied to her when she asked about the rumours,[43] returned to This Morning on 5 June for the first time since his departure.[44] Stating that she felt "shaken, troubled and let down," she said that everyone at the programme had given "love and support to someone who was not telling the truth."[45] She expressed concern for Schofield's mental health, thanked viewers for their kindness and support, and said "what unites us all now is a desire to heal."[46]
Her sister, Kelly, also works in the television industry.[48]
On 4 August 2007, Willoughby married Dan Baldwin, co-founder of Hungry Bear Media and a former producer on Ministry of Mayhem and later executive producer on Celebrity Juice. They live in London and have two sons and a daughter.[49]
On 4 October 2023, Gavin Plumb, a 36-year-old man from Harlow, was arrested for solicitation and incitement over an alleged plot to abduct and murder Willoughby.[51] He was accused of contacting another man in the United States, who was in fact an undercover police officer, and asking him to come to the UK for the purpose of kidnapping and murdering Willoughby.[52] He is reported to have told the officer that he had "assembled a kidnap and restraint kit capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of the kidnap of Holly Willoughby".[52][53] Willoughby was made aware of the plot on 5 October and was taken into protective custody, with Alison Hammond filling in Willoughby's role on This Morning.[54]
Plumb appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on 6 October, where he was remanded into custody on charges of soliciting to commit murder and incitement to kidnap, rape, and murder.[55] The trial began in June 2024.[56] On 4 July 2024, Plumb was found guilty of soliciting murder, encouraging or assisting the commission of kidnap, and encouraging or assisting the commission of rape. Plumb had previously been imprisoned for attempted kidnap and false imprisonment.[57]
At Chelmsford Crown Court on 12 July, Mr Justice Murray sentenced Plumb to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years.[58]
Willoughby waived her right to anonymity, which is usually granted to alleged victims of sexual offences.[59] She did not attend any of the court proceedings. At Willoughby's request, her victim impact statement was not released to the public, but was mentioned by the prosecution as showing "catastrophic" consequences.[60]
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