Holly Willoughby ‘addresses her three-month TV absence in her opening speech’ as ​​she returns as host of Dancing On Ice

Holly Willoughby will reportedly make up for her three-month TV absence when she returns to Dancing On Ice.

The TV presenter, 42, will co-host the ITV skating show with Stephen Mulhern, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

The series begins on January 14, almost three months after learning of an alleged plot to kidnap and kill her.

According to a new report, Holly will thank her fans for their support in the hope of ‘marking the start’ of a positive new year.

A TV insider said this The sun: ‘Holly is really looking forward to putting 2023 behind her and focusing on a fresh, positive start to a new year.’

They continued: “She considers a very brief comment at the top of the opening show, along the lines of, ‘It’s good to be back’ or ‘Thanks for your support,’ drawing a firm line under her pause and signaling the beginning of a new optimistic period.’

MailOnline has contacted Holly’s representatives for comment.

It comes as Dancing On Ice bosses have offered Holly more security and want to ensure she feels completely ‘safe’ during the show, according to The sun.

The publication also claimed that Holly has signed a one-year contract with an option to step back next year in case she wants a longer break.

A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses have been working hard to make sure she feels completely safe, trying not to put any pressure on anyone, while making sure she knows they are ready to help her to support you every step of the way.”

Holly signed a deal over Christmas after weeks of considering whether to present the show, and is said to be ‘excited’ to get back to work on the show she previously presented with her former boyfriend Phillip Schofield.

An ITV insider told MailOnline: ‘Holly is a star and everyone was hoping so much that she would decide to come back.

‘After much discussion and much thought, she thought it would be a good thing to get some normalcy in her life.

‘There are obvious concerns about live television, her main priority is her family, ITV has been extremely understanding and put no pressure on her at all.’

They added: ‘They wanted to give her all the time she needed, but it was a difficult decision for her. Time was ticking, but the bosses tried to remain calm.’

Katie Rawcliffe, head of entertainment commissioning at ITV, said: ‘Holly and Stephen are two of our best-loved presenters, so reuniting them 20 years after they first appeared on screen together as presenters of Dancing On Ice marks the start of an exciting year for the show. show.’

ITV also shared a post on Instagram that read: ‘Dancing On Ice news Twenty years since they first worked together, Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern join forces for the biggest show on ice.’

Stephen, host of ITV game shows Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal, is a close friend of Holly and last week signed a deal to host Dancing On Ice after agreeing to step into Schofield’s shoes.

However, ITV had no stand-in for Holly waiting in the wings, meaning all hopes were pinned on her.

Holly and Phillip, 61, co-hosted Dancing On Ice from its inception in 2006 until 2011.

Christine Lampard then replaced Holly for the next three series until the show ended in 2014.

The series was then revived by ITV in 2018, with both Holly and Phillip returning as presenters until this year.

Phillip was subsequently sacked by ITV after admitting to lying about a romantic relationship he had with a former younger colleague, resulting in his contract with This Morning being immediately terminated.

Stephen emerged as the frontrunner to take over from Phillip, having presented spin-off series Defrosted for a year in 2006 and replacing Phillip when he fell ill with Covid last year.

The TV presenter confirmed in October that he was in talks with bosses to join as co-presenter following Phillip’s departure.

Stephen told MailOnline that it would be ‘amazing’ to host the show and that co-hosting alongside long-time friend and colleague Holly always makes for a ‘great time’.

He said: “I used to do the spin-off show Defrosted and when I replaced Phil when he wasn’t so well he had Covid, I really enjoyed it and it was so nice to be with Holly again.

‘We had a great time together and a lot of the team was the same as when I did the ITV2 show.

“We are talking about it, but I promise you nothing has been confirmed yet, but if it happens it will be absolutely amazing. If it isn’t, look, it isn’t. I promise I would tell you if we confirmed it at this point.

“The lineup is the best it’s been in a few years… I’m keeping the lineup, just in case… It’s a hugely important part, and it already exists.”

Holly’s future on the show was thrown into doubt after she stepped down from This Morning after being ultimately ‘tipped over the edge’ by an alleged ‘kidnapping and murder plot’.

The mother-of-three, who originally joined This Morning in 2009, released a statement saying she was leaving the show ‘for the sake of her family’.

Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of incitement to murder and incitement to kidnap of the former This Morning presenter. The guard remains behind bars after being denied bail.

During a brief hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Gavin Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, who was not present, was refused a bail application. He has set a trial date for June 24 next year.

Holly has also quit her £1million deal with Marks & Spencer as she remains fearful for her safety.

She has been heading collections for the retail chain since 2018, but told bosses she had to take time out from the contract while she came to terms with her fears about the business.

The star typically presents several “capsule collections” a year and also offers fashion tips to shoppers on the store’s website.

She has also frozen her seven-figure deal with L’Oréal, as the face of Garnier Nutrisse hair dye. She has not participated in any promotional activity with the brand.

It is not known whether she has lost income from the contracts.