10 October 2023 , 17:02
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Holly Willoughby has made the difficult decision to quit her This Morning presenting role as the ITV star issued a poignant statement on her Instagram.
In it, Holly explained: "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 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 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. Holly."
One of the people who will no doubt be on hand to support Holly in her decision is close friend and fellow This Morning host, Alison Hammond. The pair have formed a close bond over the years and their friendship is clear on screen. Alison has been working as a reporter and a presenter on This Morning since 2002, with Holly joining much later in 2009. They've worked together for years, but seem to have been spending more time together outside of work over the last few years. A source told the Daily Mail that they had become "thick as thieves" and earlier this year it was reported that Holly had been a massive source of support for Alison as she went through a break-up with her partner of two years, Ben Hawkins.
Holly and Alison had often presented the show together (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)A source told Closer Magazine how Holly had been texting Alison and getting together for 'counselling' sessions over a glass of wine. They said: "She's been helping to lift Alison's spirits by not only being there for her to talk to and a shoulder to lean on. But by instilling her with confidence and helping her focus on how many positive things she has in her life. It's like a form of counselling. While Holly and Alison have never been best friends, Alison has been touched at how Holly's stepped up since her split from Ben. Texting her almost daily, calling and even inviting her over for wine which has been hugely therapeutic for Alison."
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Alison also shared several snaps of herself and Holly on her Instagram around the same time, with some of them behind the scenes at work and one of a girls' night, joined by Spice Girls star Emma Bunton. Holly also shared some of the pictures, but neither has shared any of the other recently. Although Alison has been posting photos with fellow This Morning co-host, Josie Gibson.
While many enjoy seeing their friendship thrive, others have made savage claims about it, with former This Morning presenter Eamon Holmes recently laying into Holly in a bombshell interview with GB News accusing her of 'using people' and 'mixing in circles, which she thought would open doors for her'. He went on to say that he believes her friendship with Alison has been faked for the cameras.
He said: "This nonsense that goes on that Holly Willoughby now has Alison Hammond as her best friend, and it's Alison Hammond's birthday party and Alison Hammond goes to Holly Willoughby select night out with her friends. This wouldn't have happened two years ago. You kidding? Alison has been on that program 13 years. And I'm sure there was very little contact between her and the presenters. But then it all changed. They use people. It's disgusting. And it's tolerated."
Following Eamon's 'user' claims back in May, it was claimed that Alison was quite 'upset' over what had been said and Holly was concerned about them falling out over it. "The last thing Holly wants is to fall out with Alison over this," a source told Heat magazine. "Alison was really upset by her name getting mentioned in his interview. She's heartbroken that Eamonn would drag her into this. She's always got on with Holly."
This might have been why Holly seemed to hit back at the rumours by announcing on an episode of This Morning that Alison was coming round to her house later that evening, subtly suggesting to all that the pair's friendship was still going strong. On June 7, Josie told viewers that she had some friends coming to join her later on a boat, but explained that Holly couldn't make it as she was in the studio and Alison was busy, to which Holly replied: "Alison can't come because she's round at mine tonight."
And Holly's not the only one that's commented publicly on their friendship since then, with Vanessa Feltz seemingly confirming that their friendship is indeed real. Vanessa opened up about her relationship with both presenters to OK! and branded them both 'great women' and said the friendships were 'real'. "We're proper friends in real life. It's not just a TV thing, it's a real thing. Both of those women are 100 percent there for me and have been in various different circumstances," she admitted. "Without question, they're among the first women I hear from. They're great women and they're great friends. What you see on TV is what they're really like, and they're very funny. They are excellent company and tremendous for a girls' night out."
An ITV spokesperson also recently told the Daily Mail that Alison and Holly are friends outside of work, saying: "Alison, Dermot and Holly are all valued members of the This Morning family and all enjoy working together on the show, as well as having friendships outside of the show."