10 October 2023 , 22:59
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Holly Willoughby looks totally unrecognisable after throwback snaps of her This Morning debut almost 15 years ago were unearthed.
Back in September 2009, fresh-faced bubbly Holly made her bow on the iconic ITV morning show after telly bosses decided that she was the perfect match for Phillip Schofield. Holly, then 28, had bit boots to fill at the time after long-running presenter Fern Britton called it a day on the sofa.
Recalling her arrival back in 2019, Phil said also forgot their telly anniversary and became emotional when the pair took a look back at their first ever selfie together. “We were so young!” gasped Holly before he quipped: “I think we’re getting better with age – like a fine wine!”
Holly Willoughby made her This Morning debut back in 2009 (JAY ROWDEN)He pulled a prank on her moments before the cameras begun rolling. Pretending he couldn't work with Holly, he jokingly walked away before she grabbed him back and he asked her how it felt. "Like it's not really happening," she said.
Phil and Holly were first paired together in 2006 after they were chosen to front ITV’s new skating competition Dancing On Ice. Producers and viewers alike noticed the pair's chemistry, and when Fern announced she was leaving This Morning three years later.
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Phil quit back in May after admitting to having an 'unwise but not illegal' affair with a younger ITV member of staff. On Tuesday night, Holly says she had come to the decision to leave as well 'for me and my family'. The 42-year-old called time on a decade-and-a-half on the sofa and as she called working on flagship daytime show as an 'honour' before thanking co-workers, viewers and telly bosses.
Holly and Phil will go on to spend 14 years on the programme (JAY ROWDEN)Holly wrote in a statement shared to her Instagram page: "I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so, so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together.
"Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You've been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day. Richard and Judy said 'we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers'. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive.
"To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. It's been an honour to just be part of it's story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family. "I will miss you all so much."
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director, Media and Entertainment, ITV said: "We are sad that Holly is leaving This Morning, but respect her decision which we know will have been extremely difficult for her to make. Holly is one of the best loved, respected and most accomplished broadcasters in the UK. She has been at the heart of This Morning for the past 14 years, and she is adored by our viewers.
"Holly has brought her unique brand of warmth, energy, humour and fun to one of the country’s most popular daytime shows, and everyone on the programme will miss her enormously. She remains a much loved member of the ITV family and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the future."
It's been a tough 12 months for Holly following a number of This Morning scandals. Last year, she and former co-host Phillip were accused of skipping the queue to pay their final respects to the late Queen. Then in May, Phillip resigned from This Morning and ITV after admitting he had an affair with a younger former colleague and lied about it.