You’d think Holly Willoughby’s star couldn’t rise any higher. But with the TV presenter in high demand for guest appearances, brand collabs and book deals, we’re told her This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield is worried for the future of their partnership.
“Holly feels as though she has come full circle with This Morning,” a source tells heat.
“She’s openly admitted to being terrified when she first started and didn’t want to appear stupid. But now she feels fully in control, and as though she could handle anything – but that’s also part of the problem. Holly just doesn’t feel challenged anymore, and her new fear is that if she stays too long in daytime, things could get stale.
“The other tricky part is that the power dynamics between her and Phil have completely reversed. She’s the one holding all the cards now and he knows it. He will totally respect her decision as he adores her, but selfishly, he doesn’t want her to go, as she has been such a big support since he came out as gay [in February 2020] – and he worries if the audience will accept a different co-host with him.”
CHECK OUT Holly Willoughby's career timeline
Holly Willoughby career timeline stacked
1 of 192000: S Club TV
Back when Tina was doing her dance, and Jon was looking for romance, Holly was doing a pretty impressive job as a stand in member of S Club 7 for their TV movie S Club 7: Artistic Differences. In the children's comedy, the band split when artistic differences tore them apart (Paul heading off to start a rival band, Rachel leaving to get married) – but Holly helped keep the peace as a character named Zoe.
2 of 192004: Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown AKA Ministry of Mayhem
Originally called Ministry of Mayhem, Holly and Stephen's Saturday Showdown was a mad cap CiTV game show that saw the show hosts camp it up as housemates that welcomed boys and girls teams in to their living room for an assortment of competitions.It is also the setting where Holly met her future husband, Dan Baldwin (they tied the knot in 2007 and have three children), and gave co-host Stephen Mulhern a platform to show off his magic skills. Fancy!
3 of 192005: CD:UK
Now we're not saying Cat Deeley can be replaced... but Holly was a pretty great successor to the fellow 40-year-old TV host. Holly helped many a hungover adult get through Saturday morning's by presenting the children's music chart show.
4 of 192006: Dancing on Ice
A glimpse of what was to come – Holly was paired with hosting icon Philip Schofield on the ice skating dance show that saw celebrities compete on skates under the tutelage of Olympic legends Torvill and Dean. Holly and Phil's warm chemistry was a hit with fan – pulling in over 12 million viewers at the show's peak.
5 of 192008: Xtra Factor
After Fearne Cotton but before Konnie Huq, Holly hosted The X Factor spin off show the year that music fans were thrilled by the likes of Alexandra Burke, JLS and Diana Vickers. The star arguably co-hosted with her first son, Harry, as she was pregnant with him while the show aired in 2008 – with her first baby arriving in May the following year. She returned to host again for series six – which was when Joe McElderry won.
6 of 192009: Celebrity Juice
The mad cap mayhem of presenting children's television shows was probably a good training ground for Holly to deal with the juvenile antics of Keith Lemon (aka Avid Merrion). Holly serves as a team captain on the bonkers late night game show with best friend Fearne Cotton championing her opposing team. The trio were a hit with viewers, until Fearne announced her departure from the show in December 2018.
7 of 192009: This Morning
As well as delighting late night viewers, 2009 saw Holly enter the weekday TV format as she started hosting This Morning with Philip Schofield after the departure of Fern Britton. Fans of the pair have seen their friendship blossom on-screen as they still present together to this day – and have helped the magazine entertainment show scoop NTA, TRIC, TV Choice, and Freesat Awards along the way.
8 of 192012: The Voice UK
Holly and Reggie Yates were the face of The Voice when it first launched in the UK on the BBC back in 2012. The duo held the show together for the first two years and worked alongside show coaches Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue as they found champions Leanne Mitchell in 2012 and Andrea Begley in 2013.
9 of 192012: Surprise Surprise
When the long-running show was resurrected in 2012, Holly seemed like the natural choice to fill the shoes of Cilla Black. With her approachable demeanour and warm personality, Holly shone as she fronts the light entertainment show as members of the public have dreams made true.
10 of 192016: Meet the Parents
Proving herself as one of the hardest working women in showbiz, Holly doesn't slow down when the weekend arrives despite hosting This Morning four days per week. The hostess has most recently been helping singletons find love on the ITV dating show that sees parents vet prospective dates for their children.
11 of 192018: Coronation Street
In 2018, Holly had a cameo in beloved ITV soap Coronation Street, along with her co-host Phillip Schofield. The pair interviewed the characters of Rosie Webster, Craig Tinker and Gemma Winter as part of Rosie's exit storyline.
12 of 192018: I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
When Ant McPartlin announced he would be stepping down from all TV duties to focus on his addiction recovery, Holly was the first choice by Declan Donnelly to replace him. She was a HUGE hit with viewers - and many even called for her to have a full-time role on the show in the future.
13 of 192019-2020: Dancing On Ice
As well as presenting This Morning Monday-Thursday with Phillip Schofield, Holly also returned to the ice when Dancing On Ice made a comeback in 2019. Both Holly and Phillip then returned for the 2020 series, which ended in March.
14 of 192021: Reflections
In early April 2021, Holly revealed that she would be taking an extra week off from This Morning to work on a secret project, with Rochelle Humes keeping her side of the sofa warm. A week later, the star announced that the secret project was in fact a brand new book, called Reflections, set to be released in October.
15 of 192021: Take Off
Holly joined forces with Bradley Walsh in July 2021 to host BBC game show Take Off, with the pair trying to make people's holiday dreams come true.
16 of 192021: WYLDE MOON
In September 2021, Holly announced that she is embarking on a brand new career project as she launched WYLDE MOON. Holly described WYLDE MOON as 'a space full of things that I love and people that inspire me... from beauty and fashion, to energy and healing.' She also said: 'In creating WYLDE MOON for you, I've filled a need in me. I'd lost a part of who I was and that rediscovery has led me here, to a whole new place of beauty and power'.
17 of 192022: (borrowed from) The Wild perfume
On 8th February 2022, Holly revealed that her first perfume (borrowed from) The Wild had officially been released! Admitting that she has been wearing the perfume since the day she got the scent, Holly revealed (borrowed from) The Wild 'enlivens the senses with notes of Bergamot, Geranium, Blackcurrant, Jasmine, Rose and Mint.'
18 of 192022: Freeze The Fear
Holly was absent on This Morning for a number of weeks at the start of 2022 so she could take part in BBC reality show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof. Holly took part alongside the likes of Lee Mack, Tamzin Outhwaite and Gabby Logan, as the celebs embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the Italian mountains in sub-zero conditions.
19 of 192022: The Games
Holly hosted ITV's revival of The Games in May 2022, which involved 12 celebrities taking part in Olympic Game style activities to be crowned the winner!Holly hosted the show alongside former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff.
As heat has recently told you, Holly, 40, has been considering her options career-wise – even thinking of leaving This Morning – as she continues to be locked in a legal battle with her former management.
The YMU Group are demanding 15 per cent of her future earnings, as they are allegedly entitled to a cut of her pay after negotiating her original contract.
Holly is clearly sought after right now, after recently appearing as a guest judge on The Masked Dancer, and the announcement that she will guest star in an episode of Midsomer Murders. And we’re told it’s got Phil on edge about losing his pal.
Look! More news!
Why Jacqueline Jossa’s terrified Dan Osborne will ruin her career
“Holly feels forever indebted to Phil – they’re very close and he’s given her so much guidance over the years. And although he’s begging her not leave him, she knows ultimately she has to do what’s right for herself, and her own career and livelihood,” our insider explains. “She’s tried to reassure Phil, but he is fearful of what the future will hold at This Morning without Holly in the picture. He doesn’t want to pressure her into staying or guilt-trip her, but he has begged her to give it some more time, and try to make it work if she can.
“Whatever happens, Holly has promised Phil she will always be there to support him, whether she stays on the show or not.”
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine – OUT NOW.