Holly Willoughby set for first TV interview since leaving This Morning and Phillip Schofield partnership breakdown
Holly Willoughby is set to make her first major television interview appearance since departing This Morning, as she joins The Graham Norton Show this Friday.
The television presenter has maintained a low profile since leaving the ITV daytime show in October 2023.
Her appearance on the chat show comes ahead of the launch of her new television venture, Celebrity Bear Hunt.
The interview marks a significant return to the spotlight for Willoughby, who has largely avoided personal TV appearances in recent months.
She will share the sofa with several A-list guests, with the show also featuring a musical performance from Brandi Carlile.
Willoughby’s departure from This Morning came in the wake of significant turmoil surrounding her former co-presenter Phillip Schofield.
Schofield left the programme in May 2023 after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger crew member.
Following the revelation, Willoughby expressed feeling “hurt” at having supported her co-host only to later discover the truth of the allegations.
The period leading up to her exit was marked by various controversies, including public criticism over an alleged queue-jumping incident at Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state.
During this challenging time, Willoughby also faced a personal crisis when authorities thwarted a kidnapping plot against her.
Willoughby’s new show, Celebrity Bear Hunt, will see her hosting alongside survival expert Bear Grylls.
The series features an impressive roster of celebrities, including BBC Breakfast’s Steph McGovern and Spice Girls’ Mel B.
Other participants include Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas, and tennis legend Boris Becker.
The cast is rounded out by Leomie Anderson, Lottie Moss, Kola Bokinni, Una Healy, and rapper Big Zuu.
The show has already generated international attention, with Netflix securing global distribution rights.
Some international viewers have questioned the celebrity status of the participants, though fans have defended the British-centric casting.
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Reports suggest the filming of Celebrity Bear Hunt encountered some behind-the-scenes tensions among participants.
Sources close to the production revealed that “big personalities” led to fraying tempers during filming.
The situation reportedly became so heated that producers called an emergency meeting to remind participants about the show’s family-friendly nature.
“Things got so bad one night that the big bosses called an emergency meeting to remind the celebs that this was supposed to be a family friendly show,” according to production sources.
The intervention apparently received a mixed response from the celebrity contestants, who were resistant to comparisons with more confrontational reality shows.