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Holly Willoughby is more popular than ever with the presenter gaining nearly 39,000 followers in the last month alone, while This Morning’s platform has seen a drop since her departure.
The presenter, 42, tearfully made the decision to quit This Morning after 14 years at the weekend.
While Holly has seen a rise of 38,970 followers on Instagram, This Morning’s social media page has lost 213 followers since her announcement on the 10th October.
Online searches for the presenter has risen by 651% in the past week after she announced her resignation.
At the time of publication, Holly has an 8.5million following on Instagram, while This Morning has 2.5million.
Support: Holly Willoughby is more popular than ever with the presenter gaining nearly 39,000 followers in the last month alone, while This Morning’s platform has seen a drop
Following: While Holly has seen a rise of 38,970 followers, This Morning’s channel page has lost 213 followers since the announcement (pictured Craig Doyle and Rochelle Humes)
It comes amid reports that BBC chiefs look set to swoop on Holly in a bid to tempt her over to the broadcaster while her future at ITV remains in doubt.
Meanwhile, This Morning bosses are now said to be searching for ‘the new Phil and Holly’ to take over the flagship morning programme in the new year, hoping for a ‘complete revamp’ following a number of recent hits to the show.
Holly tearfully made the decision to quit with her family at the weekend and posted the emotional statement to her eight million followers on Instagram.
Holly’s full statement 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.’
Huge fanbase: Holly has an 8.5million following on Instagram
Changes: This Morning has 2.5million and saw 213 users click the unfollow button after Holly announced her departure
Resignation: The presenter took to Instagram to confirm she ‘will not be returning’ to the show
In the running: Among the names being touted to host This Morning is ITV star Ben Shephard, who admitted that he is ‘part of the furniture’ on the show but was unsure what next year holds
It comes after a difficult year for the star, which has seen her deal with the absence of Phillip after his affair with a young runner on the show.
Other familiar faces on This Morning, including Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Josie Gibson, are expected to continue in their roles, working alongside the fresh talent.
Among the names being touted is ITV star Ben Shephard, who admitted that he is ‘part of the furniture’ on the show but was unsure what next year holds.
He told The Mirror: ‘What I can tell you is I’m doing some more – I’m gonna be doing some more but I’m just helping out really. So I’ve got some days coming up between now and Christmas.
‘So I’m not exactly sure but I’m still very, very much part of the furniture…’
Despite his apparent uncertainty, bosses are reportedly hoping to screen test Shephard alongside some ‘exciting’ female presenters.
Ben has previously acted as a stand-in presenter on This Morning, covering for Phillip between 2005 and 2011.
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Ben did really well and the bosses loved his partnership with Holly and there was great feedback from many avenues.
‘Ben is known throughout ITV as being very popular with the audiences of whatever shows he hosts. He is also trusted by the public and is much loved within ITV. He has hosted so many shows for the channel.
‘He and Holly go back years too – he presented on This Morning some years ago and they have a great rapport.’
As well as new hosts, the show’s set will be transformed come 2024, The Sun reports.
ITV chiefs hope that the fresh set and replacement presenters will rekindle the success of what has long been Britain’s best-loved morning show, protecting jobs.
