Holly Willoughby received warm praise on Sunday evening after debuting a sleek new look for the second instalment of ITV talent show Dancing On Ice.
Willoughby is back on mainstream TV for the first time since withdrawing from public life after an alleged plot to kidnap and murder the mother-of-three was exposed in October.
Joined by new co-host Stephen Mulhern, the presenter, 42, was at her effervescent best while embracing the current trend for pink in an elegant off-the-shoulder dress.
But viewers were equally impressed with her new hairstyle; a notably sleeker bob that appeared to be at odds with the tousled look she showed off during the show’s initial launch.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one enthusiastic fan wrote: ‘Has Holly’s hair ever been this short (or straight) before?’
The same follower later added: ‘Not sure how much shorter she could go from here!’
A third wrote: ‘Saw the end and had to look twice at Holly Willoughby – is it me or does she look different?’
Evidently in agreement, a fourth Dancing On Ice viewer shared a photo of the presenter’s new look, captioning the post: ‘Stunning.’
While Willoughby’s latest appearance proved to be a hit with fans, viewing figures remained low after launch night drew in its lowest ever ratings.
An average 3.8million viewers tuned in to watch Ricky Hatton become the first celebrity to leave after losing the first skate-off of the series.
The figure is a slight improvement on launch night, which drew in just 3.6 million.
In comparison the launch was watched by 4.1 million in 2023 and 4.3 million in 2022. 2021’s opening show saw 5.4 million tuning in while 2020’s figure was 5.1 million.
On Sunday evening Willoughby stunned in a chic maxi dress which detailed an animated bow on her shoulder, while she teamed her look with matching pink nails and a sleek new hairstyle.
The TV presenter captioned her post: ‘On Sundays we wear pink! @DancingOnIce 6:30pm on @itv… see you soon’.
Willoughby recently shared a poignant post about ‘blossoming in dark times’ after making her TV comeback the ITV show.
The presenter had been absent from screens for more than two months before returning to co-host the ITV skating competition alongside Stephen Mulhern.
Her lifestyle brand Wylde Moon shared an Instagram post about ‘resilience, strength’ and ‘blossoming in dark times’.
Posting a picture of a moonflower on their Stories, the caption read: ‘The moonflower has become a symbol of blossoming in dark times.
‘These fragrant, white flowers have evolved over millions of years to open only at night and their ethereal, nocturnal beauty is a powerful symbol of how resilience, strength and growth can flourish during the darkest and most challenging moments.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
