Questions have been circling for months over who will host the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice after Philip Schofield resigned from his This Morning role back in May. 

But it has now been reported that Stephen Mulhern has officially signed as the new  host for the Sunday evening show. 

While Stephen, 46, will replace Philip, 61, it still remains unclear whether co-host Holly Willoughby will return to the ice skating show after she left This Morning in October due to a terrifying alleged kidnap and murder plot. 

The Sun have reported that having Stephen on board has been a huge boost to ITV bosses who are desperately hoping Holly, 42, will return to TV in January for the show. 

The presenter put on a brave face to join her family for a Christmas lunch on Thursday as she was seen for the first time after months of being too frightened to leave her home.

New Dancing On Ice host officially revealed as Stephen Mulhern, 46, as ITV bosses hope to persuade Holly Willoughby, 42, to stay after ‘kidnap plot’

While Stephen will replace Philip, 61, it still remains unclear whether co-host Holly Willoughby will return to the ice skating show after she left This Morning in October due to terrifying alleged kidnap and murder plot

Dressed in a camel coat, red jumpsuit and gold stiletto heels, Holly, 42, was seen leaving the restaurant near her home in south west London where she had dined with her mum Linda, husband Dan Baldwin and a group of friends. 

The mum-of-three has been mulling over her future on TV since the alleged kidnap plot, and ITV bosses are anticipating her decision on whether she will present Dancing on Ice in January, just days before the show’s launch. 

A TV insider told the publication: ‘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.

‘Stephen is hugely loved by viewers, is a consummate professional and as an added bonus has worked with Holly for decades – they both started out in telly together.

‘Knowing Stephen will be there beside her could be the comfort blanket Holly needs to say yes.’

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment. 

Holly and Phillip Schofield hosted Dancing On Ice from 2006 until 2023, with the exception of the years 2012 to 2014 where Christine Lampard took Holly’s place. 

Out and about once again this week with her family, Holly didn’t crack a smile yet those close to her say that she is ‘feeling better as each day goes by’.

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘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’

The presenter put on a brave face to join her family for a Christmas lunch on Thursday as she was seen for the first time after months of being too frightened to leave her home 

This Morning has been left in disarray this year after Phillip resigned from the role due to his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a much younger colleague and Holly quit after a terrifying alleged murder and kidnap plot 

ITV bosses are hoping having Stephen on board will persuade Holly to return to TV in January for the show (Holly and Stephen pictured for their show Saturday Showdown back in 2006) 

One friend told MailOnline: ‘For some time Holly hasn’t wanted to go to a restaurant or anywhere other people will see her, she has stuck to private places but little by little she is starting to get her life back.

Television production guru Dan, 48, was seen hugging Holly’s mum Linda as they left the restaurant. 

Friends say that it is those two who Holly has leaned on since learning of the alleged plot to kidnap and murder her by former security guard Gavin Plumb in October.

Since then she has struggled to leave the house that she shares with Dan and their three children, Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and eight-year-old Chester.

The terror of the threat left her so scared that she is still undecided whether she will host Dancing On Ice when it returns next month though she is expected to tell ITV whether she will return or not in the coming days.

Holly has also paused her £1million deal with Marks & Spencer because she remains fearful for her safety.