This summer will see Holly Willoughby celebrate 18 years of marriage with her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin. And ahead of the big day on 7 August, heat can reveal that the couple plan to mark the big occasion by saying 'I do' again.
An insider tells us, ‘Holly wants something fun to focus on, which is why she's been talking with Dan about the possibility of renewing their wedding vows on holiday. She feels that doing it now could give them both the reset they need. Holly thinks it could be the perfect way to enter into this exciting new chapter of their lives and turn the page on all the negativity. It also feels like an impressive milestone for them both, as they've joked that their marriage has finally become an adult.’
After meeting on the TV show Ministry Of Mayhem in 2004, Holly and Dan married three years later. They went on to have children Harry, 16, Belle, 14 and 10-year-old Chester, while also teaming up in their careers. Dan is credited with helping his wife break out of children’s TV as he served as executive producer on ITV2 panel show Celebrity Juice, which Holly was a team captain on, alongside pal Fearne Cotton. ‘He’ll be a bit cheeky, or he’ll wind me up – the director and the crew all find it funny,’ Holly has said about her working relationship with Dan, who she also teamed up with on Freeze The Fear With Wim Hof in 2022.
Now, they want to walk down the aisle again, and it’s been a long time coming. Holly revealed in 2016, ‘My mum and dad had a renewal and I think it was lovely. So, I think I’d like to do it. Not for a long time, though. Mum and dad had been married for 25 years! They are each other’s biggest fans and always back one another up. If Dan and I have a marriage like theirs, we’ll be on to a good thing.’
And our insider says that 18 years holds a special significance to the long-time presenter. 'Holly thinks their porcelain wedding anniversary is all about recognising the delicate yet strong nature of a long-lasting marriage, like the beauty and resilience of porcelain,’ the source explains. ‘They don't want to make a fuss and have said it would be something private for them, the kids and some immediate family members on a luxury beach getaway.’
A vow renewal would be something for Holly to look forward to after a rough few years. Her relationship with former best pal Phillip Schofield broke down two years ago, after his affair with a younger male colleague came to light in May 2023. Five months later, Holly was the subject of a horrific kidnap and murder plot, which saw sick Gavin Plumb sentenced to life imprisonment. It prompted her to step down from her presenting role on ITV’s This Morning after 14 years at the helm.
And on top of all that, Dancing On Ice – which she presented for almost 20 years – was axed by executives this year, and Celebrity Bear Hunt, her Netflix show with Bear Grylls, has not been renewed for a second season. So, celebrating her love for Dan with their families would certainly come at the right time. ‘Holly is trying to lift her spirits – and she wants to recapture her magic with Dan, too,’ the source continues. ‘The world feels so heavy right now, and Holly says she wants to embrace joy where she can. When they look back at their wedding, life was so much simpler. Although they have had an incredible marriage so far, they've been through a lot in the past few years. Holly’s been pining for something she can control in her personal life that will put a smile on everyone's faces.
‘Rather than worry about what she's going to do career-wise, she would rather take this opportunity and do something for herself and her family.’
