Holly Willoughby said to be open to This Morning return

Willoughby, 45, announced in October 2023 that she was leaving the daytime show, saying the decision was for “me and my family.” Her exit followed the discovery of a plot to kidnap, rape and murder her. She had presented This Morning for 14 years alongside Phillip Schofield, who left five months earlier after admitting to an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.

A source told Closer that Willoughby still feels affection for the show and its staff, and has kept in touch with former colleagues. The source said she had recently met some of them and would not rule out a return, despite difficult experiences toward the end of her time on the programme.

Since leaving, Willoughby has hosted Dancing on Ice and You Bet! for ITV, and Celebrity Bear Hunt for Netflix; all three shows have since been axed, according to the article. She has also focused on her wellness brand, Wylde Moon, and her family and friends. In July, she launched Together, a YouTube lifestyle series produced by her husband Dan Baldwin’s company, Hungry Bear Media. Guests have included Stanley Tucci, Emma Bunton and Michael McIntyre. The show has attracted 31,000 subscribers.

The source said Willoughby remains passionate about television and would consider an opportunity to return if the timing and people involved were right. The report does not say that a comeback has been agreed or is under way.