Holly Willoughby 'struggling' as Leigh Francis says she's 'not in a good place'

28 November 2023 , 11:05

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Leigh Francis, also known as Keith Lemon, admit Holly Willoughby is not 'in a good place' (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for BGC)

Holly Willoughby has gone through a tough year and made the decision to leave This Morning in October after 14 years.

The former daytime host shocked the nation in October when she sensationally quit This Morning. She told fans in an emotional statement shared on her Instagram page that it was a "difficult goodbye", but that she felt proud to have been part of such an iconic show. She also said she had to make the decision to leave for "me and my family".

Her friend Leigh Francis, also known as Keith Lemon, previously admitted that she's not 'in a good place'. During a chat about his pal, with whom he worked with on Celebrity Juice, he said: "I don't think she's in a good place. She's having a tough time." Leigh said he tried to cheer her up by texting her about things he's bought, like Spider-Man Crocs.

And now, a source claimed that Holly has been "struggling" and doesn't plan to return to TV soon.

Holly Willoughby quit This Morning after 14 years fronting the show (Getty Images North America)

"She was the golden girl of ITV, but she's had a horrible drop. She's at rock bottom at the minute. She's really not good, she's struggling she feels people are judging her and she's scared," the source said to OK!

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Holly's career took a hit when Phillip Schofield, her long-term co-host, stepped down from his role as presenter. He later admitted to an 'unwise but not illegal' relationship with a young runner on the show. At the time, Holly released a statement and denied knowing anything about it.

This led to questions about Holly's future on the show. She continued with different co-hosts - including Alison Hammond and Josie Gibson - who are thought to be amongst Holly's close friends. However, things took a turn for the worse when it was revealed that she was the target of an alleged kidnap and murder plot.

Shopping centre security guard Gavin Plumb appeared in a pre-trial and plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court earlier this month. He denies plotting to kidnap her and inciting murder and will go on trial next June.

Holly then decided to step back from the spotlight for her family's 'safety'. She shared the news on Instagram, releasing a statement which read: "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 much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together."

"Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you."

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Zara Woodcock