👀 Going solo? Holly Willoughby fuels comeback rumours after This Morning exit, as bold plans surface and whispers grow that she’s ready to take full control of her next TV chapter đŸ”„

Holly Willoughby attends the 'Celebrity Bear Hunt' Special Screening at Odeon in the West End on February 4, 2025
Holly Willoughby attends the ‘Celebrity Bear Hunt’ Special Screening at Odeon in the West End on February 4, 2025

More than two years after stepping away from This Morning, speculation has never stopped over what Holly Willoughby would do next.

There were brief returns to the spotlight — a short stint fronting ITV’s You Bet! and a hosting role on Netflix’s reality series Celebrity Bear Hunt. But now, the 44-year-old presenter is said to be preparing her most ambitious move yet — one that signals a decisive break from traditional TV formats.

Holly Willoughby and Dan Baldwin at the launch of Green's Restaurant and Oyster Bar on September 1, 2009
Holly Willoughby and Dan Baldwin at the launch of Green’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar on September 1, 2009

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Holly has chosen to go it alone, quietly developing a brand-new project that will see her both produce and present her own show, without the backing of a major broadcaster.

In a move that reflects the rapidly changing media landscape, Holly is working alongside her husband Dan Baldwin and his production company Hungry Bear to create what insiders describe as a “multi-strand programme for digital platforms.”

A source close to the presenter said Holly is “thrilled and excited” by the direction the project is taking.

“The television industry has changed dramatically,” the insider explained. “It’s nothing like it used to be, and Holly feels this is the right moment to do something different — something that gives her full creative control.”

According to those involved, the concept is intentionally hard to pin down.

“It’s not a podcast. It’s not a traditional TV show. And it’s not something anyone has really done before,” the source added.
“It’s modern, progressive, and very much led by Holly. She’ll be central both on screen and behind the scenes, and she’s loving developing it with a small, tight-knit team.”

Holly has largely remained off mainstream television since her shock departure from This Morning in October 2023, following the harrowing revelation that a former security guard had allegedly planned to kidnap, rape and murder her.

The terrifying plot emerged just months after her highly publicised fallout with long-time co-presenter and friend Phillip Schofield — a period that marked one of the darkest chapters of her career.

She later returned briefly to ITV as the face of Dancing On Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern, but the skating show has since been cancelled by the channel, leaving her future on ITV uncertain once again.

However, fresh rumours suggest Holly’s absence from daytime TV may not be permanent.

Industry insiders now claim she is expected to return to This Morning following the departure of the programme’s current female presenter, who is reportedly planning to move back to the United States with her children.

While ITV has not confirmed the shake-up, sources say executives would “welcome Holly back with open arms” should the opportunity arise — especially amid ongoing efforts to stabilise the show’s ratings and restore its familiar warmth.

At the same time, Holly is also said to be among the frontrunners to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing following their reported exits last year — a move that would mark a major primetime return.

For now, though, Holly appears focused on rewriting the rules on her own terms — stepping away from the safety of established formats and towards a future where she controls the narrative, the platform, and the pace.

Whether her next chapter unfolds online, back on the This Morning sofa, or under the Strictly lights, one thing is clear:
Holly Willoughby is not retreating — she’s repositioning.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/