Holly Willoughby hasn’t graced our screens for a while, after the cancellation of several projects. Now, sources tell us the star has got her eyes set on returning to prime-time TV – but she’s scared to take the risk.
There was a time when the 44 year old seemed to never not be on telly, fronting mainstream shows such as This Morning and Dancing On Ice. But now, we’re told she’s got her heart set on something a little different.
An insider tells heat, ‘Holly thinks a prime-time talk show would the right project to aim for. There are a lot of ideas being discussed, but Holly is feeling a little impatient. Instead of waiting for something to get green-lit, she’s taking the initiative and shopping around the idea of a chat show.’
But as much as Holly is on a mission to make a big TV comeback, we’re told she still has niggling doubts. ‘She’s afraid of it being a huge flop, because then the question is where she would go from there. It would be quite a big dent to her ego if it didn’t work – there is a lot riding on it.’
After 14 years hosting This Morning alongside former best pal Phillip Schofield, Holly stepped down from the show in 2023, after being the target of a horrific murder plot by stalker Gavin Plumb.
She returned to host Dancing On Ice, which she had presented since it started back in 2006 but the show was axed at the start of this year. Her other project, Netflix’s Celebrity Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls, also got the chop after one series, while a recent reboot of You Bet! with pal Stephen Mulhern failed to enthuse viewers.
Now, as Holly – who is mum to Harry, 16, Belle, 14 and 10-year-old Chester with husband Dan Baldwin – finds herself without a major TV project to front for the first time in two decades, our source reveals she feels a big chat show would be a fresh challenge, especially as most are fronted by men.
We’re told, ‘Holly feels she could be a trailblazer, as there’s never really been a female counterpart to the likes of Graham Norton or Jonathan Ross. The format has always been very male-dominated and Holly thinks that should change. And if she could lead that change, it would be a massive achievement.’
Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life in prison for plotting to abduct, rape and kill Holly in 2024. Having kept largely silent on the topic, she spoke out about the traumatic ordeal in January, saying, ‘Nothing can prepare you for something like that. I’m healthy and I’m happy. I’ve got a wonderful husband and children and family, I’ve got great friends. You have to go, “I choose to positively move forward and rely on all those people – the police, the court, the judge, the jury – to do their role”.’
As well as the support of Dan and the kids, celeb pals such Emma Bunton, Abbey Clancy, Christine Lampard and Nicole Appleton have all rallied round Holly. And now it sounds like they could be helping out once again.
Our insider says, 'Dan's a TV producer, so he's an expert in crafting the perfect pitch for TV bosses. And a lot of her famous contacts have offered to help. Holly has said she would be thrilled if Emma could persuade the Spice Girls to come on as the first guests on a chat show.
'It would be a major coup and the perfect launch pad – it's these ideas that get her excited. She feels as though it's now or never.'
