Daily Mail: Holly Willoughby quits This Morning after 14 years

Story from Daily Mail:

Holly Willoughby quit This Morning because the show 'wasn't the same' after her co-host Phillip Schofield left but was finally 'tipped over the edge' by an alleged 'kidnap and murder plot', insiders have claimed.

Ms Willoughby, 42, tonight announced that she 'will not be returning' to the show. She said it was an 'honour to just be part of its story' over the last 14 years but that she feels 'I have to make this decision for me and my family'.

The ITV presenter, acknowledging that leaving is 'such a difficult goodbye', thanked the network for 'being supportive'. She also expressed her gratitude to the 'wonderful viewers' that she says have been 'loyal, so supportive and the very best company' over the years.

Insiders have now told MailOnline that the alleged plot pushed Ms Willoughby to quit, but added that it had been in chaos since Mr Schofield's exit.

This Morning has due to be relaunched in January with Ms Willoughby and a new host, sources say. Good Morning Britain's Ben Shephard was believed to be the favourite to replace Mr Schofield.

The TV presenter pulled out of hosting This Morning on Thursday and her London home was reportedly being guarded by police after Plumb was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap.

Ms Willoughby's full statement today said: 'I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.

'To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together.

'Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You've been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day.

'Richard and Judy said we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers'. It's been an honour to just be part of it's story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.

'I will miss you all so much.'

An ITV boss said the broadcaster is looking forward to working with Ms Willoughby 'in the future' following the news she is quitting This Morning.

In a statement, Kevin Lygo, managing director of media and entertainment at ITV, told MailOnline: 'We are sad that Holly is leaving This Morning, but respect her decision which we know will have been extremely difficult for her to make.

'Holly is one of the best loved, respected and most accomplished broadcasters in the UK. She has been at the heart of This Morning for the past 14 years, and she is adored by our viewers.'

Mr Lygo added: 'Holly has brought her unique brand of warmth, energy, humour and fun to one of the country's most popular daytime shows, and everyone on the programme will miss her enormously.

'She remains a much loved member of the ITV family and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.'

Ms Willoughby's This Morning family has rallied behind her in wake of her shock exit from the programme.

Alison Hammond said 'this is a very sad day' but reiterated that she loved the presenter.

Juliet Sear, TV cook and baking expert, posted that she was 'sad' to see Holly go, but also wished her 'loads of positive things' in her 'new chapter'.

'It's been wonderful working with you for the last 8 years and making your birthday cakes to for the last 14,' Ms Sear wrote. 'Lots of love to you and you family.'

Vanessa Feltz added: 'We will miss you so very much my darling.'

Following news of the alleged plot, Ms Willoughby's former co-host, Phillip Schofield reportedly contacted her the first time in five month to share his well wishes.

The pair had been close friends and co-hosts on ITV's This Morning for 14 years until Mr Schofield left in May after admitting to having had an affair with a younger male member of staff, which he initially lied about.

The presenting duo had not spoken since his departure with rumours of a rift fuelled by his and his two adult daughters unfollowing her on social media.

However, Mr Schofield broke the ice because he was 'horrified' by the allegations about the plot to target her.

'Holly and Phil's friendship was so close before the events of this year,' a source told The Mirror.

'I was so sorry to hear about everything going on with Holly and I wanted to send my best to her and her family and to all of you,' he said.

An external review of the facts after Mr Schofield's departure is currently under way and ITV bosses have said both the host and his former lover 'repeatedly denied' allegations of a relationship until the star quit ITV and formally apologised.

His departure came after weeks of speculation of a feud with Ms Willoughby, who said at the time she would remain on the show but is taking early half-term holiday leave.

She took to Instagram at the time saying Mr Schofield's admission about his relationship with a younger ITV colleague was 'very hurtful'.

She said: 'When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It's been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.'

Ms Willoughby rose from her roots in children's television to become the queen of daytime TV before announcing tonight that she would leave This Morning.

The presenter first entered the limelight when she was scouted by a modelling agency as a teenager. She broke into television in the noughties when she starred in CITV show S Club TV, a spin-off drama based on the lives of pop group S Club 7.

Later, Willoughby began hosting children's game show Xchange and the children's version of talent show Fame Academy for the BBC.

She jumped ship in 2004 to ITV so she could present Saturday morning children's show Ministry Of Mayhem alongside Stephen Mulhern before taking over from Cat Deeley on children's music chart show CD:UK.

ITV bosses handed her a presenting slot on newly launched Dancing On Ice in 2006, which saw her matched with Mr Schofield for the first time, with the pair's on-screen warm chemistry providing a glimpse into what was to come on This Morning.

She first shared the sofa with Schofield in 2009, after the departure of Fern Britton, which saw the pair's friendship blossom earning them Bafta and National Television Awards gongs.

In 2016, they famously appeared on air in the outfits they had worn the previous night at the NTAs and shared stories with viewers from a raucous after-party hosted by Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly.

The presenters' close bond appeared to be cemented even further in 2020 after Mr Schofield came out as gay in an emotional on-air chat with Ms Willoughby.

He later thanked Ms Willoughby and said he 'couldn't have done that with anyone else ... sitting by the side of me'.

In 2022, the co-hosts faced criticism over claims they skipped the queue for the late Queen's lying-in-state while attending as members of the media to film a segment for This Morning.

The chief executive of ITV, Dame Carolyn McCall, defended the pair in September last year saying they had been 'misrepresented' over claims they jumped the queue.

Following the departure of Mr Schofield, Ms Willoughby shared the couch alongside Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle as Mr O'Leary and Ms Hammond continued to provide holiday and Friday cover on the show.

Ms Willoughby's return to the show in June was highly anticipated and marked her first on-screen appearance since Schofield left ITV in May.

The episode was watched by an average of 839,000 viewers, the highest daily average for the show since the coronation bank holiday on May 8. It was also above the three-month average of 703,000.

The peak audience for Monday's show - the highest number of viewers watching at any one time - was 1.6 million, nearly double the average for the whole programme.

Ms Willoughby has had a number of other TV roles, including co-hosting I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018, stepping in for Anthony McPartlin who took a break from ITV commitments and public appearances following a drink-driving conviction, which saw him banned from the road for 20 months and fined £86,000.