Holly Willoughby braves rides at Winter Wonderland while taking family for festive outing ahead of Dancing On Ice return
HOLLY Willoughby braved the rides at Winter Wonderland while taking her family for a festive night out.
The Hyde Park location, which is a sprawling maze of wooden chalet stalls, huge funfair rides, wacky bars and food vendors, saw the former This Morning host pop for a visit with her three kids in tow.
The 43-year-old presenter cut a casual figure in a black coat and cap, and pulled her hair into a ponytail as she got stuck into the rides.
Holly looked delighted as she made her way around the iconic Christmas venue, with her children Harry, 15, Belle, 13, and Chester, nine.
They went on rides together, and Holly was seen covering her face and looking nervous as one sprung into the air with the star and her kids strapped in.
But clearly keen to try more than just the roller coasters, the mum-of-three also headed to the haunted house with her family.
Holly looked in great spirits as she made her way around the Wonderland, but at one point she shielded her face after something spooked her in the haunted mansion.
Holly shares her three children with her husband Dan Baldwin.
The star was taking some time out of home renovations, after splashing £8million on a new family home.
Holly and her TV producer husband Dan are renovating the luxury property — and having extra security installed.
Two months ago This Morning host Holly moved out of the £3million London home that had been targeted in a twisted plan to kidnap and murder the pair.
It was thought that the couple were relocating to the countryside after their ordeal, but The Sun on Sunday revealed that they have decided to stay in the South East.
A source said: “It’s a fresh start after a challenging year and an opportunity to put all memories of the nightmare behind her.
“The house is currently undergoing building work so it will be like new and perfect for their needs.”
The couple bought the six-bedroom property in July.
Could You Bet! be the full circle moment Holly Willoughby needs?
By Joshua Rom
When Holly Willoughby finally announced her departure from This Morning in October 2023 it felt almost like a crescendo. After her feud with Phillip Schofield, dealing with the revelation about his workplace relationship, months of speculation, a lacklustre return to the daytime show and a horrendous kidnap plot it seemed like her own departure was almost a relief.
She made her return to TV on Dancing On Ice, a show that first shot her to superstardom that she knew inside and out. This was combined with a long-standing colleague from her days in children’s TV to serve as her co-host in the form of Stephen Mulhern. It was a safe and steady bet for the star that placed emphasis on the continuity of her career despite unprecedented challenges.
She was previously announced as one of the hosts for a new jungle challenge show for Netflix called Bear Hunt. The streamer reportedly spent £1million on a ‘ring of steel’ security detail made up of ex-special forces and former military guns to protect her against drug gangs and kidnappers. We are still yet to see this show but with contestants such as Mel B, Shirley Ballas and Steph McGovern it is sure to be a must-watch.
But You Bet! feels like a proper homecoming for the star as she returns to ITV with her first new format since she left This Morning. Her partnership with Stephen Mulhern will continue and the new show could cement them as the new golden hosting couple of the most popular commercial broadcaster. Huge names like Olly Murs and Harry Redknapp will only bolster their star power and viewers will surely love the on-screen reunion with her former colleague and BFF Alison Hammond. Plus, you cannot go wrong with a beloved TV game show format from the 90s. The BBC can attest to this with the success of Gladiators.
On paper, this news has all the qualities for a major success and maybe it will be the show to usher in a new era for Holly Willoughby.
Holly ended her 14-year stint on ITV’s This Morning after Gavin Plumb was given three life sentences for planning to break into her home, then sedate, abduct and kill her and her husband.
Holly’s next gig will be Dancing On Ice, which starts up again in January.
Holly has been largely off TV screens since she quit her role on This Morning in October 2023.
She hosts Dancing On Ice with her former children’s TV colleague Stephen Mulhern, and is also set to front Bear Hunt on Netflix with Bear Grylls.
The mum of three will also front a reboot of game show You Bet! with Stephen Mulhern – and gushed about his comeback.
Her new projects come after her former This Morning presenting pal Phillip Schofield took a huge swipe at his former best friend.
On his Channel 5 show Castaway, he lashed out at an unnamed trio which is thought to have included ITV bosses Martin Frizell and Emma Gormley – after he left the ITV daytime show following an affair with a younger staff member.
Pals of Phil now say he believes Holly and their former boss Martin staged an “organised coup” to get him sacked after the jailing of his paedophile brother Timothy.
We told how he now unkindly brands Holly as “the witch”.