In a turn of events that has stunned the television world, Holly Willoughby, one of ITV’s most recognizable faces, finds herself without a show on the network for the first time in over two decades. The 44-year-old presenter, who has been a fixture on British screens since her debut on CITV in 2004, was reportedly axed from Dancing On Ice in a shock decision announced on April 1, 2025. The move marks the end of an era for Willoughby, whose glittering career has spanned everything from children’s TV to daytime juggernauts like This Morning. With fans reeling and speculation swirling about her next move, here’s the full story behind Holly’s unprecedented ITV exit and what it means for her future.
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Holly Willoughby has been left without a prime time ITV show for the first time in 21 yearsCredit: Rex
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It came after The Sun was first to report how Dancing On Ice has been axedCredit: Rex
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It comes just months after she quit game show You Bet! on the channelCredit: PA
A 21-Year ITV Legacy
Holly Willoughby’s journey with ITV began in 2004 when she joined CITV to host shows like Xchange and Ministry of Mayhem alongside Stephen Mulhern. Her bubbly charm and natural charisma quickly caught the network’s eye, propelling her to primetime with Dancing On Ice in 2006. Paired with Phillip Schofield, she turned the ice-skating competition into a Sunday night staple, dazzling in sequined gowns and earning praise for her warmth and professionalism. By 2009, she’d landed the coveted co-hosting gig on This Morning, cementing her status as ITV’s golden girl.
Over the next two decades, Holly became synonymous with the network. She fronted Celebrity Juice, The Voice UK (during its ITV years), Surprise Surprise, and countless specials, from royal weddings to charity telethons. Her partnership with Schofield was a cornerstone of ITV’s daytime lineup, drawing millions with their infectious banter—until it unraveled in 2023 amid Schofield’s affair scandal and subsequent exit. Holly stayed on This Morning with rotating co-hosts like Dermot O’Leary and Craig Doyle, but her departure from the show in October 2023, citing “family reasons,” hinted at cracks in her ITV reign. Dancing On Ice remained her last tether to the network—until now.
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She was a former team captain on ITV2’s Celebrity JuiceCredit: ITV
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Holly also fronted ITV’s Surprise Surprise re-bootCredit: ITV
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Holly teamed up with explorer Bear Grylls for a new Netflix series this yearCredit: hollywilloughby/Instagram
The Dancing On Ice Axe
The bombshell dropped on April 1, 2025, when The Sun reported that ITV had axed Holly from Dancing On Ice ahead of its 2026 series. The decision came after months of speculation about her future with the show, which she’d co-hosted since its inception (bar a brief hiatus in 2011). Sources claimed ITV bosses wanted a “fresh start” following a turbulent 2024 season plagued by low ratings and controversy over pro skater Graziano Di Prima’s exit. “Holly’s been incredible, but the show needs a shake-up,” an insider told The Mirror. “It’s time for new energy.”
The news hit hard. Holly had returned to Dancing On Ice in January 2024 with Stephen Mulhern after Schofield’s departure, earning solid reviews despite a dip to 3.5 million viewers—down from its 12 million peak in 2009. Her final episode, crowning Ryan Thomas as champion, aired on March 10, 2024, with no hint of her exit. Fans assumed she’d be back for 2026, especially after she teased “exciting plans” on Instagram. Instead, ITV reportedly offered her a “graceful exit” rather than a renewal, leaving her without a single show on the network for the first time since 2004.
Why Now?
The timing of Holly’s Dancing On Ice axe raises eyebrows. At 44, she’s still a bankable star, with a £10 million fortune, a thriving Wylde Moon lifestyle brand, and a loyal fanbase. But her ITV tenure has faced challenges since Schofield’s 2023 scandal, which saw her grilled over her knowledge of his affair with a younger colleague. Her This Morning exit months later—after 14 years—followed a terrifying kidnap plot uncovered by police, prompting her to step back for her family’s safety. “Holly needed time away,” a friend told OK! Magazine. “It was a traumatic year.”
Her 2024 return to Dancing On Ice was meant to be a comeback, but the show struggled to recapture its glory days. ITV’s push for younger demographics—evident in casting TikTok stars like Miles Nazaire—clashed with Holly’s traditional appeal. “She’s seen as the old guard,” a TV expert told The Express. “ITV wants edgier, fresher faces.” Rumors suggest Maya Jama or Rochelle Humes could replace her, signaling a shift in tone. Holly’s £200,000-per-series fee may have also factored in, with ITV tightening budgets amid streaming competition.
A Career Crossroads
For the first time in 21 years, Holly Willoughby is an ITV free agent—a prospect both daunting and liberating. Her departure from This Morning was softened by Dancing On Ice, but this latest blow leaves her without a TV home. “It’s a shock to her system,” a source told The Sun. “Holly’s always had ITV as her backbone.” Her last major non-ITV gig was Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof on BBC One in 2022, a one-off that didn’t lead to more. Since then, she’s focused on Wylde Moon, hosting events like a 2024 wellness retreat, and family life with husband Dan Baldwin and their three kids.
Fans are devastated but hopeful. “Holly’s too good to vanish from TV,” one X user wrote. “ITV’s mad to let her go.” Others speculate she’s plotting a bigger move—perhaps a Netflix deal or a return to the BBC. Her husband’s production company, Hungry Bear Media, which makes The Masked Singer for ITV, could open doors elsewhere. “Dan’s got connections,” an insider told Digital Spy. “Holly won’t be off screens for long.”
What’s Next?
Theories about Holly’s future are swirling. A Netflix gig—think a lifestyle series or a glossy reality show—tops the list, with odds at 2/1 from Ladbrokes. “She’s got global appeal,” analyst Alex Apati said. “Streaming’s the next frontier.” Channel 4 is another contender, potentially for a revamped The Games or a chat show, leveraging her presenting chops. A BBC return could see her host Strictly Come Dancing if Claudia Winkleman steps down, though her Dancing On Ice exit might cool that prospect.
ITV hasn’t ruled out a comeback entirely. “Holly’s part of the family,” a spokesperson said, hinting at future specials. But for now, she’s off the roster, a stark contrast to her omnipresence in the 2010s. Her Instagram silence since the news broke—her last post was a Wylde Moon ad on March 28—adds to the mystery. “She’s taking stock,” a pal told The Mail. “This wasn’t her choice.”
The Emotional Toll
Holly’s ITV exit isn’t just professional—it’s personal. After 21 years, the network shaped her identity, from her early 20s to motherhood and superstardom. Losing This Morning was a blow, but Dancing On Ice was her comfort zone—a glitzy escape where she shone. “She loved the glamour,” a co-star told Heat. “It’s a wrench to let it go.” The kidnap plot, which led to a man’s arrest in 2023, also lingers, with Holly reportedly upping security at her £3 million London home.
Fans have rallied around her, flooding X with support: “Holly deserves better than this,” one wrote. “She’s a legend.” Her resilience—navigating Schofield’s scandal, public scrutiny, and personal threats—suggests she’ll bounce back, but the uncertainty is palpable.
A Changing TV Landscape
Holly’s predicament reflects broader shifts in TV. ITV’s chasing younger viewers with shows like Love Island and Big Brother, sidelining veterans like her and Schofield. Daytime TV, once her domain, is losing ground to streaming, with This Morning ratings dipping below 500,000 some days in 2024. “Holly’s a casualty of the times,” a media expert told The Times. “Traditional TV’s evolving, and even big names aren’t safe.”
Her Dancing On Ice axe also echoes other ITV shake-ups—think Piers Morgan’s Good Morning Britain exit or Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway break. It’s a gamble: will ditching Holly revive the show, or alienate her loyal audience?
The Legacy and Beyond
Holly Willoughby’s 21-year ITV run is a legacy of warmth, versatility, and star power. From kids’ TV to primetime, she’s been a constant, her blonde bob and megawatt smile a comfort to millions. Now, at a crossroads, she faces a chance to redefine herself—whether on a new network, in business, or both. “This isn’t the end,” a friend told The Mirror. “It’s a new beginning.”
As April 2025 unfolds, fans await Holly’s next chapter. Will she skate back into TV glory, or take a break to regroup? One thing’s certain: after 21 years, her ITV exit marks the end of an era—and the start of something unpredictable. Stay tuned, because Holly Willoughby’s story is far from over.
