Bosses at Dancing on Ice are reportedly in chaos as regular host Holly Willoughby remains unconfirmed to be returning to the ITV show.
Holly, 42, dramatically quit her job at fellow ITV show This Morning after a number of difficult months. Now, it seems that Willoughby is unsure about coming back to the limelight in the wake of the debacle.
The line-up for next year’s show has already been confirmed with 11 famous faces, including comedian Lou Sanders and professional boxer Ricky Hatton, signing up for the show. Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb was due to be taking part, but was forced to pull out of the show due to sustaining an injury during training.
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But whilst the line-up is already under rigorous training for the new series’ launch in January, the presenting duo have not been given the green light. Holly had been joined by former best pal Phillip Schofield, but following a scandal regarding a younger colleague, Phillip dramatically left ITV, leaving the door open.
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Catchphrase host Stephen Mulhern is rumoured to be filling in for Phil on the show; however, this has yet to be confirmed by the broadcaster. Holly’s return is also still on the table, as she is reportedly yet to sign on the dotted line.
Whilst unconfirmed to be a host, Stephen admitted to MailOnline that it would be “amazing” to join the cast of the show and work with Holly. He added that starring alongside Holly is a “great time”, regardless of the show.
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
As a result, ITV bosses are said to be in “crisis talks” over the lack of confirmed presenters with just two months to go until the show goes live. Speaking to The Sun, an insider close to the show said the show might be mothballed until the presenters have been confirmed.
“In many ways the producers of Dancing on Ice are in limbo until they can resolve the issue of who’ll be steering the ship when the show returns,” the source confessed. “Although it usually doesn’t start until mid-January, bosses still now find themselves working on a timescale measured in weeks, not months.”
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Holly had previously taken time away from the show, leaving Phillip to host the show together with Christine Lampard from 2011 to 2014, when ITV called time on the show. But a revival of the competition in 2018 saw Holly and Phillip reunited until this year.
Holly has not made any TV appearances after the plot to kidnap and murder her left her “being tipped over the edge”. The mum-of-three had become a staple of daytime TV, starring on This Morning for 14 years but leaving the programme “for the sake of her family”.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
