The reason why Holly Willoughby missed the Dancing On Ice photoshoot on Wednesday has reportedly been revealed.
The event saw the cast for the upcoming series unite for official shots and interviews – but presenter Holly, 42, wasn’t in attendance.
She will host the new series – starring the likes of Amber Davies and Miles Nazaire – alongside Stephen Mulhern who is taking Phillip Schofield’s place as she makes her TV comeback after quitting This Morning last year.
Now The Mirror reports that Holly skipped the photocall to concentrate on rehearsals with her new co-host.
Holly was at last year’s shoot but 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.
The reason why Holly Willoughby missed the Dancing On Ice photoshoot on Wednesday has reportedly been revealed (seen with co-host Stephen Mulhern)
The event saw the cast for the upcoming series unite for official shots and interviews – but presenter Holly, 42, wasn’t in attendance
‘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.’
ITV have been contacted for comment.
MailOnline exclusively revealed that she will return to the skating competition when the series kicks off on January 14.
Dressed in a stunning £3,200 floor-length red Vivienne Westwood gown, Holly beamed as she poses alongside her new TV sidekick Stephen as she prepared for her comeback in photo’s released this week.
The Mail on Sunday revealed she met Mulhern, 46, two weeks ago 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 Mulhern did not meet the show’s judges, including Olympic gold medallists Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, but instead had their own private shoot at a studio in London.
For Holly, it was normality returning to her life as she was joined by her stylist Danielle Whiteman, who carefully selected the £3,200 Vivienne Westwood gown.
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.
She will host the new series alongside Stephen who is taking Phillip Schofield ‘s place as she makes her TV comeback after quitting This Morning last year
Stephen and Holly are pictured together in 2006 on CITV back at the start of their presenting careers
‘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 Mulhern, 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.
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 of the way. It has really made her smile,’ added the friend.
‘When you have that much history with someone you feel safe. The last year has been a huge change for her.
‘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 she went back to Dancing On Ice was a quandary for Holly, some gentle persuasion from Stephen definitely helped to seal the deal.’
Next Sunday at 6.30pm she will co-host the programme, whose stars include Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards and former Brookside actress Claire Sweeney, from ITV’s studio at the old RAF base in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire.
Holly signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show that she hosted with her former friend Phillip for many years
It is a moment she has been mentally preparing herself for since making up her mind to return to the limelight over the Christmas period.
Friends of the mother-of-three say that she will not be addressing her alleged kidnap plot ordeal but is using the return of Dancing On Ice as an opportunity to move on with her life and try to forget the last three months of devastation – at least until the accused man’s trial in June.
‘It is unlikely she will acknowledge her time off at all. It will be a matter of it’s business as usual,’ says a source close to Holly.
Security at the studios has been so tight for many years, there is little more that ITV can do to improve it. So network chiefs are satisfied that it is ‘super safe’ for the star.
