Holly Willoughby was ‘incredibly shy at school’ & had to ‘force myself to break fears’ as she speaks out on ‘tough’ year
HOLLY Willoughby has opened up on her ‘incredibly shy’ days at school, after breaking the silence on a tumultuous 18 months.
Speaking for the first time about leaving This Morning, the presenter, 43, revealed it was “an easy decision”.
Not only did Holly get candid on her ‘tough’ year, but she also discussed her childhood days and forcing herself to ‘break fears’.
Opening up to The Sunday Times Style Magazine, the mum-of-three, who was born in Brighton and went to a private school, explained: “I was incredibly shy at school.”
The blonde beauty got candid on her early modelling days – which saw her on the cover of Just Seventeen, the holy grail of Nineties’ teen modelling gigs.
She confessed: “When I started modelling, going on castings, I remember walking into a room, waiting to go in, and there were a load of girls – you’d see the same faces all the time – and they’d be chatting and having a laugh. I felt very much like, God, I’m not like that.”
But she was eager to fit in and work on her confidence, as she admitted: “I remember thinking, you’ve got to really learn quickly. I had to force myself to break through that fear.”
And although Holly “didn’t feel” like the ‘prettiest girl in town’, she explained: “I don’t think image was as huge a thing then as it is now. I’m glad I grew up at a time when social media wasn’t there and you weren’t looking at yourself all the time. It wasn’t really a thing.”
Not only did Holly, who previously opened up on hiding behind her fringe whilst at school, share an insight into her life growing up, but she also opened up on stepping down from presenting work entirely after discovering a plot to kidnap and murder her.
She said: “It’s been tough. There’s no way of sugar-coating it.”
Discussing why she felt moving forward was her only option, the mum-of-three said: “Sometimes things go wrong, but you have to keep going for it because that’s all you can do.”
Also opening up in her first chat since her stalker was jailed for life, Holly explained that she “had to go on” and “focus on the positive”.
Obsessed security guard Gavin Plumb was jailed for life last July over his plan to ambush Holly at her home.
The 37-year-old loner wanted to knock her out with chloroform and take her to a dungeon where her screams would not be heard “for miles”.
I had to force myself to break through that fear
Holly Willoughby
Holly has so far told of the ordeal only in a statement given at Plumb’s trial.
When asked by The Sunday Times if there was a moment when she could have let the situation consume her, Holly said: “It wasn’t an option.”
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.
Last month, Holly returned to Dancing On Ice, a series she has presented on and off since 2006 – and much of that time she had her This Morning partner Phillip Schofield by her side.
But now, Holly is returning to the limelight with a new Netflix show alongside Bear Grylls – Celebrity Bear Hunt, as well as currently hosting Dancing on Ice.
The show airs next month and features adventurer Bear Grylls chasing a line-up of famous names in the Costa Rican jungle.
Holly and adventurer Bear, 50, filmed the brand new format last year.