Susanna Reid weighs in on Holly Willoughby's This Morning exit

30 December 2023 , 13:01

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Susanna Reid weighs in on Holly Willoughby's This Morning exit (Image: DAN KENNEDY)

Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid has spoken for the first time about Holly Willoughby's shock This Morning exit.

The two women had been familiar faces on ITV daytime for years until Holly suddenly stepped down from all her commitments to focus on herself and her family. It came after an alleged kidnap and murder plot against Holly, as well as her embroilment in ex-co star Phillip Schofield's affair drama, all of which culminated in a turbulent end to the year with Holly quitting her role as host of morning chat show This Morning.

Despite the "challenging" time she's been through, Susanna predicted Holly, 42, who she described as 'brilliant and strong' would return to her presenting career, in comments made before she was officially confirmed to return to host Dancing On Ice.

Susanna Reid believes Holly can't be blamed for making the decision to leave This Morning (DAN KENNEDY)

Holly stepped back from TV in October (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Susanna said that Holly couldn't 'be blamed' for making the decision she did. "It was a very challenging thing to have to handle and deal with," she told Woman&home magazine, for its February issue.

"I used to see her very occasionally, as even though they're in the studio next door, they're on at a different time. Over the past year, the times I've seen her she's been her typical, normal, smiling, bright, happy, strong self."

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Susanna added that "big presence" Holly would be back on the TV, adding that she's an "exceptional, clever, funny, brilliant presenter".

Holly had decided to take a step back from TV after the alleged kidnap plot - she was also still dealing with the aftermath of former co-host and best friend Phillip Schofield's affair drama. Viewers were shocked to see her appear on Thursday's This Morning, with Josie Gibson, but her appearance was just part of a compilation.

Holly's future on figure skating show Dancing on Ice had been left hanging in the balance for weeks however this week it was confirmed that she'd join Stephen Mulhern to present. Fans are now eagerly awaiting her TV comeback in January.

An insider told the Mirror: "ITV are delighted to have Holly back. Stephen is a good friend of hers too so she will enjoy working with him again."

ITV bosses were said to have been prepping a team of presenters to step in if Holly decided to leave, but believed giving Stephen the job would lure her back - and it seems to have worked. Earlier this year, a source said: "Stephen has been the frontrunner to take Phillip's spot for months but ITV is thrilled to now have him signed and sealed and ready to roll."

ITV also confirmed Holly's return this week, with Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, saying: "Holly and Stephen are two of our best loved presenters, so reuniting them twenty years after they first appeared on screen together to host Dancing on Ice marks the start of an exciting year for the show. Celebrating 20 years since they first worked together on Ministry of Mayhem, Willoughby and Mulhern will preside over the action on the high octane skating show as this year’s celebrities compete to become champion of the ice. Judges Torvill and Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse are back on the panel."

Amelia Ward