Holly Willoughby made her hotly-anticipated return to television screens on Sunday evening during the Dancing On Ice launch show after more than three months off air following an alleged plot to kidnap her.
And according to insiders, the presenter’s triumphant appearance on the skating show was fuelled by a pact to ‘bring back the fun’ with her new co-host Stephen Mulhern from their children’s TV presenting days.
A source has now told The Sun: ‘Holly thrives on live telly and no more so than in those madcap days splurging slime and reacting to live chaos when she and Stephen first began on Ministry of Mayhem.
‘They’ve talked about finding that same fun tone for Dancing on Ice and Holly sees this as a great way to embrace this big moment.
‘This is incredibly important to her but they both think recapturing the free-and-easy tone of their early days is the way to go. She wants to lean on the strength of their past as she looks to the future.’
The a different insider claimed that Holly and the team prepared for the show by getting together for a chicken roast dinner before the live programme.
Stephen has stepped in to replace Holly’s former co-host Phillip Schofield, who a source suggested wouldn’t be tuning in to the show.
Holly’s return to the limelight comes almost three months after she stepped down from her hosting role on This Morning after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.
MailOnline exclusively revealed last month that Holly would be returning to the show after quitting This Morning.
Taking to Instagram an hour before the ITV skating show aired, Holly confidently wrote alongside her snap: ‘Let’s do this one sequin at a time’.
The cast united for a photocall event earlier this week as they took official shots and took part in interviews, but Holly wasn’t in attendance.
The Mirror then reported that Holly – who was at last year’s shoot – skipped the photocall to concentrate on rehearsals with her new co-host Stephen.
A source told the publication of this year’s event: ‘Holly doesn’t want any distractions at the moment so she wasn’t at the photoshoot.
‘And for her it is more about rehearsals and getting the series off to a great start with a new co-host.
‘She’s putting all her energy into the show. Holly is a total professional and as always she will be putting her heart and soul into the series with Stephen.
Holly signed a deal over Christmas after weeks of deliberating over whether to present the show, and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show that she previously hosted with her former friend Phillip.
An ITV insider told MailOnline: ‘Holly is a star and everyone was so very much hoping that she would decide to come back.
‘After many discussions and a lot of thought, she thought that getting some normality into her life would be a good thing.
‘There are obvious worries about going on live television, her main priority is her family, ITV have been hugely understanding and have not put any pressure on her at all.
‘They wanted to give her all of the time she needed but it has been a rough decision for her. Time was ticking but the bosses were trying to remain calm.’
Katie Rawcliffe, head of entertainment commissioning at ITV, said: ‘Holly and Stephen are two of our best loved presenters, so reuniting them 20 years after they first appeared on screen together to host Dancing On Ice marks the start of an exciting year for the show.’
ITV also shared a post to Instagram which read: ‘Dancing On Ice news 20 years since they first worked together, Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern join forces for the greatest show on ice.’
Stephen, who hosts ITV game shows Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal , is a close friend of Holly and signed a deal to host Dancing On Ice Iast week after agreeing to step into Schofield’s shoes.
ITV did not have a stand-in for Holly waiting in the wings, however, meaning that all hopes were pinned on her.
Holly and Phillip, 61, had co-hosted Dancing On Ice from its inception in 2006 until 2011.
Christine Lampard then replaced Holly for the next three series until the show ended in 2014.
The series was then revived by ITV in 2018, with both Holly and Phillip returning as hosts up until this year.
Phillip was then fired by ITV after he admitted to lying about a romantic relationship he had with a former younger colleague, immediately ending his contract at This Morning.
Stephen emerged as the frontrunner to take over from Phillip, after presenting spinoff series Defrosted for a year back in 2006 and standing in for Phillip when he fell ill with Covid last year.
The TV presenter confirmed in October that he was in talks with bosses to join as co-host after Phillip’s departure.
Stephen told MailOnline it would be ‘amazing’ to front the show and that co-hosting alongside longtime friend and colleague Holly always makes for a ‘great time’.
He said: ‘I used to do the spinoff show Defrosted and when I stood in for Phil when he wasn’t too well, he had Covid, I really enjoyed it and it was so lovely being back with Holly.
‘We had a great time together plus lots of the team were the same from when I did the ITV2 show.
‘We are talking about it, but I promise you now that nothing is confirmed but if it happens, it will be absolutely amazing… if it doesn’t, look, it doesn’t. I promise you I would tell you if we had it confirmed at this point.
‘The lineup is the best it has been in a few years… I am keeping across the lineup, just in case… It is a huge staple, and it has been around.’
Holly’s future on the show had been thrown into doubt after she stepped down from This Morning after finally being ‘tipped over the edge’ by an alleged ‘kidnap and murder plot’.
The mother-of-three, who originally joined This Morning in 2009, released a statement saying she was leaving the show ‘for the sake of her family’.
Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting murder and incitement to commit kidnap the former This Morning host. The security guard will remain behind bars after being denied bail.
During a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Gavin Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, who was not present, was refused a bail application. He has a trial date fixed for June 24 next year.
Holly has also paused her £1million deal with Marks & Spencer because she remains fearful for her safety.
She has fronted collections for the high street chain since 2018 but told bosses that she needs to take time out from the contract while she comes to terms with her terror over the case.
The star usually fronts several ‘capsule’ collections per year and also offers fashion tips to shoppers on the store’s website.
She has also frozen her seven-figure deal with L’Oreal, as the face of its Garnier Nutrisse hair dye. She has not taken part in any promotional activity with the brand.
It is not known whether she has forgone any income from the contracts.
Dancing on Ice is on ITV1 on Sunday nights, at 6.30pm.
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.
