As her future at ITV remains in doubt, BBC chiefs appear set to target Holly Willoughby in a bid to tempt her to the broadcaster.
The company’s bosses have been keen to land the presenter for some time now and the way is now clear for them to make their move with her current projects on air.
Ms Willoughby, 42, left her role on This Morning on Tuesday after 14 years, while her presenting job on Dancing on Ice is yet to be decided.
Executives at the BBC are now discussing possible ways to lure the presenter to them as the face of some of their biggest shows, sources say.
Ms Willoughby has been on the BBC’s radar for some time and attended the Variety Showbusiness Awards last year as guest of honor alongside Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore.
It appears BBC chiefs are looking to target Holly Willoughby in a bid to lure her to the broadcaster
Her husband, TV producer Dan Baldwin, already has strong ties to the company. His company Hungry Bear is producing the upcoming Gladiators revival, which will air on BBC1.
Less than a year later, things have changed dramatically for the star, who has now left the long-running daytime show to focus on her family.
Her family-friendly image and bubbly personality are seen by the BBC as the perfect combination to be the face of entertainment at the broadcaster.
Her husband, TV producer Dan Baldwin, already has strong ties to the company. His company Hungry Bear is producing the upcoming Gladiators revival, which will air on BBC1.
He is also behind the hit Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, which has been airing on the channel since 2015, and The Wheel, which launched in 2020.
The tentative move to woo Mrs Willoughby was made last year in the wake of public outrage over the ‘queue gate’ – where she and Philip Schofield avoided waiting in line with the rest of the public to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state. .
Less than a year later, things have changed dramatically for the star, who has now left the long-running daytime show to focus on her family.
She had received a significant pay rise to remain on the show in the wake of the scandal when Schofield quit in May after admitting to lying about his relationship with a younger colleague.
The presenter confirmed on Instagram that she ‘will not be returning’ to the show on Tuesday
Ms Willougby in February 2020, when Mr Schofield was on the program live as gay
Holly Willoughby, who has hosted This Morning for 14 years, announced via Instagram that she would not be returning to the famous sofa
ITV bosses were all set to relaunch This Morning in January, with Ms Wiloughby as host alongside a new permanent presenting partner, with Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shephard expected to be announced in the role.
The show has now been thrown into chaos, with bosses on the hunt for a brand new presenter pair to host.
The list of presenters, including Alison Hammond, Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson, are currently holding down the fort.
Miss Willoughby left viewers and ITV bosses shocked this week when she announced her departure from the show with immediate effect.
The channel is still unsure whether it will present January’s Dancing on Ice as planned, with just a few weeks to go before promotional trailers featuring the presenters, judges and contestants are broadcast.
Following news of her departure this week, This Morning broadcast a tribute to her, with heartfelt messages from viewers and presenters.
