Holly Willoughby was supported by her showbiz pals ahead of her TV return after kidnap ordeal made her retreat from the limelight.
The presenter, 42, shared her first gown of the Dancing On Ice series while hinting at her nerves ahead of her first TV appearance on Sunday since she quit This Morning.
Holly, who is co-hosting with Stephen Mulhern, 46, looked incredible in a dazzling silver strappy dress.
Taking to Instagram an hour before the ITV skating show aired, Holly confidently wrote alongside her snap: ‘Let’s do this one sequin at a time’.
Showing Holly support in the comment section, Abbey Clancy wrote: ‘Shine bright gorgeous’
Holly Willoughby was supported by her showbiz pals ahead of her TV return after kidnap ordeal made her retreat from the limelight
Taking to Instagram an hour before the ITV skating show aired, Holly confidently wrote alongside her snap: ‘Let’s do this one sequin at a time’
Showing Holly support in the comment section, Abbey Clancy wrote: ‘Shine bright gorgeous’
Nicole Appleton said: ‘There she is!! You look stunning!! Can’t wait!’
Patsy Palmer added: ‘Good luck beautiful’, with several heart emojis.
MailOnline exclusively revealed last month that Holly would be returning to the show after quitting This Morning following an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.
Holly is hosting the series alongside Stephen, who is taking Phillip Schofield ‘s place after he was fired by ITV.
Her fellow industry friends gushed to the comments to complement Holly and wish her support ahead of her TV return.
Abbey Clancy wrote: ‘Shine bright gorgeous’.
Nicola Appleton added: ‘There she is!! You look stunning!! Can’t wait!❄️ ⛸️ xxx’
On Friday, Holly broke her silence for the first time on social media , posting a picture of the Dancing On Ice script.
Alongside the photograph, seemingly taken in her home, Holly penned: ‘And so it begins…,’ alongside an emoji of an ice skate and a smiling face.
The cast united for a photocall event earlier this week as they took official shots and took part in interviews, but Holly wasn’t in attendance .
The Mirror then reported that Holly – who was at last year’s shoot – skipped the photocall to concentrate on rehearsals with her new co-host Stephen.
The TV presenter will make her on-screen return for the ITV skating competition’s launch show alongside her new co-host Stephen Mulhern
After her three-month TV absence, Holly took to Instagram on Friday to share a photograph of the Dancing On Ice launch show script as she shared her excitement for the 2024 series
A source told the publication of this year’s event: ‘Holly doesn’t want any distractions at the moment so she wasn’t at the photoshoot.
‘And for her it is more about rehearsals and getting the series off to a great start with a new co-host.
‘She’s putting all her energy into the show. Holly is a total professional and as always she will be putting her heart and soul into the series with Stephen.’
Though she wasn’t at the group cast photocall, the first official photographs of new co-hosts Holly and Stephen have been revealed.
The Mail on Sunday revealed that she met Stephen, 46, two weeks earlier for the pictures to be taken – just days after she made her first public outing since early October, when a former Essex security guard was charged with contacting a hitman in the US to kidnap and murder her.
It is understood that she and Stephen did not meet the show’s judges, including Olympic gold medalists Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean , but instead had their own private shoot at a studio in London.
One friend said: ‘It was quite an emotional day, it felt like the beginnings of a routine after months of being at home and shutting herself off from the outside world.
‘But Holly has always loved wearing dreamy, princess-style gowns on Dancing On Ice, it was always her time to get really dressed up.’
It was a doubly special reunion with Stephen, ITV’s popular and long-serving star who hosts the reboot of Deal Or No Deal and Catchphrase, because he was at her side when she got her first big break in TV almost 20 years ago.
Her new co-host Stephen was at her side when she got her big break in TV almost 20 years ago and they hosted children’s show Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown together
Stephen is taking Phillip Schofield’s place on Dancing On Ice, after he hosted the show with Holly before he was fired by ITV
The pair hosted ITV morning children’s shows Ministry Of Mayhem and Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown when they were in their 20s and since then have had an unbreakable bond.
‘It really made a difference to Holly’s mindset to know that Stephen would be with her all the way. It has really made her smile,’ the friend added.
‘For years and years, Phil was with her and suddenly he was gone. To be working with Stephen again at such a poignant time in her career is special for Holly.
‘Whether going back to Dancing On Ice was a quandary for Holly, some gentle persuasion from Stephen definitely helped to seal the deal.’
On Sunday at 6.30pm, Holly will co-host the programme – whose stars include Love Island’s Amber Davies, Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards and former Brookside actress Claire Sweeney, from ITV’s studio at the old RAF base in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire.