Why Holly ­Willoughby is turning her back on ITV for a new online show with echoes of This Morning: KATIE HIND

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After Holly Willoughby discovered a disturbing plot to kidnap, assault, and kill her, she decided to leave her job on This Morning and suddenly had a lot more free time.

Honestly, it’s been SO weird seeing Holly navigate life after leaving the show. After nearly 25 years in daytime TV, it’s like a whole part of her world just…shifted. It’s a massive change for her, and I’m just fascinated watching her adjust – it’s not easy, that’s for sure!

For 14 years, Holly Willoughby woke up early to co-host a show with her friend and former colleague, Phillip Schofield. She was a popular figure at ITV, and the network frequently featured her on television.

It took some getting used to for Holly’s youngest son, Chester, who was confused about why Holly wasn’t working anymore when he and his older brothers and sister – Harry, sixteen, and Belle, fourteen – still had to attend school.

Holly was deeply disturbed by the threat of being kidnapped. Gavin Plumb, a previous security guard, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crime in 2024.

After returning to live TV with shows like two more seasons of Dancing On Ice and the Netflix reality series Celebrity Bear Hunt, sources say Holly Willoughby now sees her career heading in a different direction, away from traditional television channels.

She’s left ITV, the channel that loved her, and is now starting fresh with a completely new path.

Yesterday, reports suggested Holly was disappointed after ITV cancelled the new version of ‘You Bet.’ However, it’s now clear that Holly actually chose not to host the show herself.

She’s currently developing a new online project where she’ll both create and host her own show.

I realize this likely reminds people of her time on This Morning, where she went from presenting for children to becoming a well-known celebrity.

Holly is working on a new project she’s funding herself, and it’s still in progress. Fortunately, she’s getting great support from a team at her husband Dan Baldwin’s television company, Hungry Bear. They’re the team behind popular BBC One shows like Gladiators and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.

From what I’m hearing, things are really changing for Holly! While she was used to having everything taken care of at ITV, that’s not the case anymore. She’s now much more involved in the day-to-day work, and honestly, she’s thriving! We’re even starting to brainstorm ideas for individual episodes – it’s a really exciting time.

A friend of the actress says Holly has been working in television for 25 years and is now ready to create her own project. With daytime TV losing popularity, she feels it’s the right time to try something different. She’s enthusiastic about this new and innovative venture and hopes it’s successful.

The way people watch TV has really evolved. Now, many are getting their entertainment from platforms like TikTok and other online sources.

Holly recognizes a chance to begin a promising new venture, a departure from her previous work which didn’t offer long-term prospects.

According to a source, although she remains on good terms with ITV, she’s decided not to return to hosting shows there. She was recently offered the chance to host ‘You Bet’ but turned it down, and has passed on other opportunities as well. She seems content to move forward, rather than revisit her previous work, especially considering the difficult experience she had with Gavin Plumb.

Holly had an idea, and she felt she needed to try it right away. She worried she’d always wonder ‘what if’ if she didn’t. It was a bit of a gamble, but she was craving something new. She was thrilled at the prospect of not just being on camera, but also directing things from behind it.

My friend also pointed out that Holly faces a lot of sexism. There will always be people who criticize her current employment situation or suggest her career is over, but those comments usually come from resentful men.

Even people who used to work with Holly at ITV – where she started her career at age 20 on the show Ministry of Mayhem – recognize that their current TV programs won’t stay popular forever. Like her, they’re also exploring more opportunities online.

‘It feels like time to do something new and different,’ muses a friend of Holly’s.

Holly hasn’t been on TV much since leaving This Morning last October, but she does have a small business called Wylde Moon. Her sister, Kelly, manages the day-to-day operations, and the business sells items like perfume, candles, and air fresheners.

I’m hearing that Holly’s move away from traditional TV has inspired other presenters to consider similar paths. They’re reportedly very enthusiastic about her new show and are exploring how they can do the same.

According to a source in the entertainment industry, young TV presenters are realizing traditional channels like the BBC and ITV don’t offer long-term careers. Many aspiring stars are now focusing on creating their own opportunities because there are fewer and fewer TV shows being commissioned, signaling a significant downturn in the industry.

Holly’s personal life is also undergoing positive changes. It’s understandable she once felt anxious about returning home, but she and Dan have recently purchased an £8 million property, hoping for a fresh start. I can’t reveal where it is, but it’s a truly beautiful place. They sold their previous house for…

They sold the house for £6.4 million, making a significant profit after purchasing it for £2.8 million in 2011. While living there, they added an extension and built a swimming pool.

As for Chester, now 11, he might have to get used to seeing a little less of his mum once again.

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2026-02-22 02:50