Holly is embracing the new year and new opportunities with open arms
Samuel McManus |
Things are finally starting to look up for Holly Willoughby after a torrid couple of years at the centre of some huge dramas that drove her to crisis point.
In 2023, she was caught up in a fallout with her former This Morning co-host and best friend Phillip Schofield, who left the ITV show following an affair with a younger male colleague. Months later, Holly stepped down herself after it was revealed she had been the subject of a horrifying kidnap and murder plot, keeping a low profile until security guard Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life in prison last July.
But Holly, 43, has welcomed 2025 with open arms with a new £8million house and plenty of career opportunities to boot. This year also marks 20 years since she started dating husband Dan Baldwin, who she shares children Harry, 15, Belle, 13, and Chester, 10, with.
Holly and Dan have been together for 20 years this year ©Imago
And as she and TV producer Dan, 50, prepare for the milestone anniversary, a source tells Closer that Holly is planning a huge party in her new home – which she is believed to have bought without a mortgage – to celebrate the start of a new chapter.
Our insider says, ‘After all the upheaval of last year and leaving their family home, Holly, Dan and the kids have all started to settle in the new house and it’s finally feeling like home for them. Holly is now busy again with work, but she owes this all to Dan and how supportive he has been of her and it’s made her realise that she couldn’t do life without him. This year marks 20 years since they first got together and Holly wants to mark that occasion properly and celebrate how strong they are.’
A vow renewal is even on the cards for the couple, who first tied the knot in 2007 after meeting while working on children’s TV in 2004. ‘Holly’s always said that she would like to renew her wedding vows when the time was right,’ the source continues. ‘She had thought about their 20th wedding anniversary but now seems as good a time as any. They could have a big party in their new home and celebrate with everyone who is close to them and who has supported them over the years.’
With things going from strength to strength in her home life, Holly is also throwing herself back into work after taking most of last year off, hosting the new series of Dancing On Ice and a reboot of You Bet!, both with her pal Stephen Mulhern.
It has also been reported that Holly, who is setting her sights on global fame as the host of Netflix’s new show Bear Hunt, which airs in February, has been offered a huge £1million deal to host three new shows on ITV.
And our source says she feels the time is right to focus on her career once more now that her children are growing up. ‘The kids are getting older, and they don’t need her as much. She and Dan are no longer exhausted parents of young children. They’re starting to enjoy more time to themselves and not worry about getting woken up early in the morning,’ they explain.
‘Holly is always broody for another baby, but she loves the kids being this age and they all have fun together. She just feels very blessed right now.’
Samuel McManus is a senior content creator for Bauer Media, writing celebrity news and features across five of the company’s brands – heat, Closer, Grazia, Bella and Yours. Samuel has worked at Bauer Media since November 2024.
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