Holly Willoughby has opened up about her departure from This Morning, saying it was an “easy” decision to leave the show after 14 years in the role.

The 43-year-old mum-of-three, who co-hosted the popular ITV daytime programme from 2009, made a sudden exit in 2023 following a chilling plot by a man to kidnap, rape, and murder her.

Next month, Holly is set to make her TV return as she hosts a new Netflix reality series titled Celebrity Bear Hunt, where celebs will try to elude survival expert Bear Grylls in the jungles of Costa Rica.

The show is being hailed as her major comeback to television after stepping down from This Morning, although she continues to present ITV’s winter sports competition Dancing On Ice, reports the Mirror.

This weekend, speaking candidly with The Sunday Times Style magazine, Holly reflected on her decision to end her tenure at This Morning—a role that solidified her status as a household name since her early days in children’s TV and light entertainment.

Holly stepped down from This Morning in October 2023, citing a desire to spend more quality time with her family (Image: ITV)
In just seven words, she summed up her decision: “The choice was really simple and easy.”

When asked if it was “terrifying” to walk away from a role she held for 14 years, Holly responded: “That question is wrapped up in so many things that were going on at that time. But no. That was the last thing on my mind. The choice [to step away] was really simple and easy, actually.”

Holly delivered a shock to her fans in October 2023 when she announced her departure from This Morning, saying: “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.”

She added, “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.”

She expressed heartfelt gratitude to their audience: “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’.”

Reflecting on her departure, Holly stated, “It’s been an honour to just be part of its 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.”

In a harrowing turn of events predating her exit, Gavin Plumb, a 37-year-old ex-security guard, received a life sentence in July of the previous year for plotting to abduct and murder Holly. At Chelmsford Crown Court, Justice Edward Murray described Plumb as “dangerous” during sentencing and aired his concern about the man’s potential threat to women.

Opening up on the harrowing kidnap plot, Holly revealed how difficult the past 12 months have been for her.

“It’s been a tough one. There’s no way of sugarcoating it,” she said.

Holly Willoughby has spoke of her ‘tough’ year (Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)
She went on to disclose that “nothing can prepare you for something like that” and emphasised the need to “decide, I can take this on board and it can absolutely affect all aspects of my life, or I can make a choice to go, let’s focus on everything that’s positive and good, all those important things”.

Emphasising her gratitude for her well-being and loved ones, she continued: “I’m healthy and I’m happy,” adding: “I’ve got a wonderful husband and children and family, I’ve got great friends.

“You have to go: I choose to positively move forward and rely on all those people – the police, the court, the judge, the jury – all those people to do their role. And that’s what I had to do.”

Fans can catch Holly hosting Celebrity Bear Hunt when it hits Netflix on 5 February. Among the stars participating in the show are Spice Girl Mel B, TV presenter Steph McGovern and Strictly judge Shirley Ballas.

Holly hosted This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield from 2009 until 2023 (Image: ITV)