Holly Willoughby

Holly Marie Willoughby is an English television presenter, author, and model. Born on 10 February 1981, she is best known for presenting major ITV television shows, most notably the daytime programme This Morning from 2009 to 2023 and the reality competition Dancing on Ice from 2006 to 2011 and 2018 to 2025.

Willoughby was born in Brighton, East Sussex, to a double-glazing company sales manager and a former air stewardess, and grew up in Woodmancote, West Sussex. She was educated at Burgess Hill Girls and The College of Richard Collyer. At age 14, she was spotted by talent scouts at The Clothes Show Live exhibition and signed with Storm Management, appearing in teen magazines and later modeling underwear, bras, and tights for clients including Pretty Polly.

In 2000, Willoughby entered television by winning an audition for CITV's S Club TV. After working in various roles as a receptionist, runner, assistant floor manager, and assistant manager, she secured an agent who contacted the BBC. She presented children's factual and entertainment shows for CBBC, including Xchange, X-periMENTAL, and CBBC at the Fame Academy. In 2004, she returned to CITV to co-present Ministry of Mayhem, which was later renamed Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown. For her work in children's television, she won a BAFTA Children's Award in 2006.

Willoughby transitioned to primetime broadcasting in 2006 as the original co-presenter of Dancing on Ice alongside Phillip Schofield. During this period, she hosted shows including Streetmate, Holly & Fearne Go Dating, and two series of The Xtra Factor. From 2008 to 2020, she also served as a long-running team captain on the ITV2 comedy panel show Celebrity Juice.

In September 2009, Willoughby became co-presenter of This Morning alongside Schofield, presenting the show until her departure in October 2023. During her time on the show, This Morning won twelve consecutive National Television Awards for Best Daytime Programme between 2011 and 2022. Her other television work includes co-hosting Text Santa, The Voice UK, Surprise Surprise, Play to the Whistle, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and the 2025 Netflix series Celebrity Bear Hunt.

In addition to her broadcasting career, Willoughby co-authored the children's book series School for Stars with her sister Kelly, launched the wellness and lifestyle brand Wylde Moon in 2021, and served as a brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer and Garnier. She married television producer Dan Baldwin in 2007, with whom she has three children. Willoughby is dyslexic and has served as a patron for the charity Together for Short Lives since 2008.