Holly Willoughby is to return to live television after agreeing to host Dancing on Ice, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

After weeks of deliberating over whether to present the ITV skating show, she signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show that she hosted with her former friend Phillip Schofield for many years.

Sources at ITV say the channel’s bosses are ‘delighted’ that she will join Stephen Mulhern for the series, which starts on January 14 almost three months after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her by former security guard Gavin Plumb.

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.

Holly Willoughby is to return to live television after agreeing to host Dancing on Ice with Stephen Mulhern, MailOnline can exclusively reveal

 

‘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.’

Ms Willoughby, 42, has always looked forward to January because it was her chance to get dolled up in fairytale dresses to host the show alongside her former This Morning co-star and friend Schofield, whom she adored so much.

‘As soon as Christmas went, Holly would get giddy about Dancing On Ice,’ says a friend of the star.

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.’

Last week, Ms Willoughby enjoyed her first trip out in public since she quit This Morning in October.

She put on a brave face to join her family for a Christmas lunch in South West London months of being too frightened to leave her home.

After weeks of deliberating over whether to present the ITV skating show, the presenter signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show, (pictured with Phillip Schofield in a still from the last series)

 

ITV bosses are ‘delighted’ Holly is set to return to the show when it begins on January 14, over two months after her last TV appearance (pictured)

 

Holly stepped down from This Morning in October (pictured in September 2023) after finally being ‘tipped over the edge’ by an alleged ‘kidnap and murder plot’

 

While the star didn’t crack a smile, those close to her say that she is ‘feeling better as each day goes by’.

One friend told MailOnline: ‘For some time Holly hasn’t wanted to go to a restaurant or anywhere other people will see her, she has stuck to private places but little by little she is starting to get her life back.

Ms Willoughby’s retreat from the limelight extends beyond her TV roles. She has even put her commitments with Marks & Spencer and L’Oreal on hold because she wants to be at home with her three young children.

Mulhern, 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 Ms Willoughby waiting in the wings, however, meaning that all hopes were pinned on her.

Setting the stage for Holly’s re-emergence as ITV’s golden girl, viewers saw her make a brief return to This Morning in a highlights episode that aired on Wednesday.She was back on ITV1 for the first time since stepping down as This Morning aired a festive compilation of clips from the last 12 months, including one with Willoughby that was originally shown in July.

 

Setting the stage for Holly’s return as ITV’s golden girl, viewers saw her make a brief return to This Morning in a highlights episode that aired on Wednesday

 

Seated alongside co-host Craig Doyle on the show’s famous sofa, the presenter was on hand to interview Hollywood star Idina Menzel about her iconic role as Elsa in animated Disney classic Frozen.

Holly then stunned viewers once again on Thursday after returning to the show for an interview with Miriam Margolyes, in a pre-recorded segment.

In the hilarious clip, This Morning was thrown into chaos as guest Miriam discussed ‘steaming her vagina’ and her sex life, while she also swore twice live on the show.

During the appearance, to promote her latest memoir, Miriam said: ‘I’m grateful, I can’t walk I fart all the time but I’m still going!’

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 Mulhern 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 that 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’.

Her exit came after her longtime presenter partner Phillip Schofield was fired by ITV after he admitted to lying about a romantic relationship he had with a former younger colleague

 

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, Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, who was not present, was refused a bail application.

He has a trial date fixed for June 24 next year.

The criminal proceedings were said to have left Holly – once the golden girl of British television – in limbo.

Willoughby 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.

Willoughby usually fronts several ‘capsule’ collections per year and also offers fashion tips to shoppers on the store’s website.

The presenter 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.

Stars preparing to take on the ice challenge this year include former Love Island winner and West End performer Amber Davies, ex-professional boxer Ricky Hatton, actress Claire Sweeney, Corrie star Ryan Thomas, radio DJ Adele Roberts, and S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt.

EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood, Made In Chelsea star Miles Nazaire, Olympian Greg Rutherford, ski jumper Eddie the Eagle, comedian Lou Sanders and Emmerdale’s Roxy Shahidi complete the lineup.