Daily Mail: ITV told Holly Willoughby was quitting 'hours' before Instagram post

Story from Daily Mail:

ITV bosses were told that Holly Willoughby was quitting This Morning just hours before dramatically announcing her resignation in an Instagram post, sources claimed last night.

The 42-year-old tearfully made the decision with her family at the weekend before telling ITV it had 'all got too much' - before posting an emotional statement to her eight million Instagram followers.

Ms Willoughby's exit comes after a difficult year which has seen the star forced to deal with Phillip Schofield's scandalous affair with a younger colleague and the more recent 'kidnap and murder plot' case.

Sources at ITV told the Mail that bosses learned about the star's departure hours before she posted about it on Instagram while those working on This Morning were taken by surprise.

One said: 'While there have been murmurings since the kidnap [allegation] came out that Holly might decide to give it all up, the bosses were confident that they were giving her all of the support she needed. Then bang, this. It came as a real shock, especially as she vowed to save This Morning after Phil was ousted. People are gobsmacked, the place is chaos.'

Another said: 'It would appear no one on the programme knew she was quitting until she announced it on social media.'

It came just weeks after the star signed a new contract – which saw her annual pay increase from £700,000 – and vowed to save the show after Mr Schofield's departure.

Richard Madeley, one of This Morning's first presenters, today showed his support for Holly Willoughby's decision to leave the show after 14 years on Good Morning Britain.

'I think that Holly's done a very brave and courageous thing,' he said.

Although she has cited her family's wellbeing as the reason for her departure, friends of the star say she also felt 'terrible' about Schofield's treatment.

Some say that Ms Willoughby 'hasn't been the same' since the fallout earlier this year and had stayed on at This Morning out of loyalty even though 'the damage was done.'

One source said 'she never got over it' and 'misses' her co-host of 14 years. They added: 'You wonder if she regrets the fallout – look at everything that has happened as a result. It's really sad.'

The pair enjoyed a famously strong friendship for years with Ms Willoughby comforting Schofield when he came out on the show in 2020. However their relationship cooled following the 'Queuegate' scandal in September last year – when they were accused of skipping the queue to see the Queen lying in state.

Relations deteriorated further in April when Schofield took time away from the sofa as his paedophile brother went on trial – something he failed to warn his co-star was coming. After news of his affair broke in May, Ms Willoughby made it clear she wanted to stay on the programme but that it was impossible to host with Schofield, 61, as their friendship had broken down.

She also made it clear that she wanted to be paired with former Big Brother star Alison Hammond, 48, whom ITV bosses were chuffed to see host together. This led to Schofield being given no option but to leave the show he had hosted for 21 years with stars including Ms Hammond and Josie Gibson brought in to fill the hole.

However, at the weekend it emerged that Ms Willoughby had got in touch with him to build bridges.

'Phil is really sad still,' said one source. 'They are not friends and it's very, very unlikely they ever will be ever again.

'Holly went out there publicly and said that Phil had lied to her about his affair with the young runner and then privately was texting him.

'She messaged him because she was really upset and concerned at people criticising him, at the same time she was going back on television.

'It hasn't been the same for her since. She vowed to guide the show through the choppy waters but in the end it sadly turned out to be too much.'

Ms Willoughby described her departure as a 'difficult goodbye,' and said it had been an 'honour' to be part of This Morning.

She wrote: '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.

'It's been an honour to just be part of its 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.'

Ms Willoughby also referenced original hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, saying: 'Richard and Judy said we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers. I will miss you all so much.'

Although sources say her emotions are authentic, she has been fearful of the show's waning popularity and launched a charm offensive at the National Television Awards last month. The show's viewing figures have been as low as 600,000 since May – around half of what the show was getting earlier this year.

Last night, Ms Willoughby's boss Kevin Lygo, hinted that she will continue to work with ITV in the future. However it is unknown whether she will continue to host Dancing On Ice.

Mr Lygo said: '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.

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

Channel chiefs were far into planning their January relaunch of the show, with plans to pair Ms Willoughby with a new male co-star.

They were keen on it being Good Morning Britain's Ben Shephard and even put the two of them on the show together last month.

Senior executives loved them and were looking to give him the role permanently. But now they have to go back to the drawing board and find a 'new Holly.'

While it is too early to confirm any replacement for Ms Willoughby, Davina McCall's name was 'thrown around' at ITV's West London headquarters last night.

While ITV bosses adore Ms Hammond and Ms Gibson, they feel they are restricted to presenting 'lighter' content. Meanwhile Ms McCall, who has handled hard-hitting documentaries, would be able to deal with 'heavier' issues.

One source said: 'Davina is a consummate professional, she is a cut above most of the presenters out there at the moment and most of all ITV are very envious of the menopause documentaries that she has done for Channel 4.

'They feel that she is perfect for their audience. That said, it's early days, but people are fully aware that replacing her could be a total nightmare.'

This Morning bosses are still awaiting the findings from a probe into the Schofield scandal and claims of a toxic, bullying culture.

The outcome from an external investigation, by London-based KC Jane Mulcahy, are expected next month after ITV's senior management team were hauled before MPs.

Chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall, Mr Lygo and This Morning editor Martin Frizell have all faced criticism for their actions.