Holly Willoughby is reportedly being lined up to front a reboot of Cilla Black’s Blind Date

Holly Willoughby is rumoured to be in the running to host a revival of Cilla Black’s iconic TV show.

The presenter. 44, has been subtly moving away from ITV, despite being one of their top personalities for over ten years. She turned down an offer to return for a full series of the revived game show You Bet! and there are whispers that Dancing On Ice, another major show she co-hosts, might be discontinued.

The BBC is reportedly considering Willoughby for the role of host in a potential reboot of Blind Date, a classic game show famously presented by Cilla from 1985 to 2003. This idea is said to have the support of Holly’s husband, producer Dan Baldwin.

A source disclosed to The Sun: “There might not sound like obvious parallels between Holly and Cilla, but they’re both two of the biggest stars of modern telly,” reports the Mirror.

Holly has already co-hosted shows such as ‘Dancing on Ice’ – but she wants to carve out “a niche as a solo presenter” (Image: ITV)The source added: “It’s not pure coincidence either that when ITV decided to reboot ‘Surprise, Surprise’ – another show made famous by Cilla – it was girl-next-door Holly they turned to. So the prospect of her fronting a reboot of ‘Blind Date’ is a very real one, and a pairing that many viewers could see as a natural fit.”

While Willoughby has co-hosted popular programmes such as This Morning and Dancing on Ice, she is also keen to establish herself as a formidable solo presenter.

The insider elaborated: “Emulating Cilla isn’t just about taking on her shows, it’s as much about carving out a niche as a solo presenter with serious clout in the world of telly.”

Together with her husband Dan, she’s part of what’s considered the ultimate power couple in television. She brings a charm that draws audiences, while he boasts a history of creating highly successful TV programmes.

The idea to host a new show is being backed by Holly’s husband, producer Dan Baldwin (Image: Getty)
In other news, there are whispers that Dancing on Ice could be on thin ice regarding its future. The show has seen a dip in viewership recently, and ITV executives are contemplating its fate.

A source disclosed to The Sun: “It’s a mainstay of ITV’s schedule and viewing figures are remarkably less than they were but they still had almost three million watch the launch show.”

The insider also noted: “There’s no denying, though, that the format has become tired and they’re not getting the big names they once did.”

Dancing on Ice is available on ITVX