Holly Willoughby showed 'hint of vulnerability' as she made TV return

14 January 2024 , 20:36

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Holly Willoughby showed 'hint of vulnerability' as she made TV return

Holly Willoughby showed a "hint of vulnerability" as she made her long awaited return to TV, a body language expert has revealed.

The presenter made her return to TV tonight for the first time since October, when she stepped down from This Morning, as she hosted the new series of Dancing On Ice. Holly stood alongside her co-presenter Stephen Mulhern as she made her return to the screen following a tough few months for the TV presenter.

Speaking to The Mirror, Judi James revealed: "This was a subtly different version of Holly on her TV return. Looking sensational in her silver sequinned sheath dress and standing hand-in-hand with Mulhern in a way that suggested a hint of vulnerability at her return after a long gap, her body language later made her look a little more grown-up and just a little bit wiser than she had before.

"The wide smile was still in place but the excitable girlishness had gone. Her eye expression looked more serious and just a little bit more sombre and her voice had lost some of those higher notes and playful, girlish squeak."

Holly alongside her co-host Stephen Mulhern (Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Holly Willoughby was back on TV tonight after a three month hiatus (Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Judi added: "Her hair is a little darker and straighter and she has lost the signature tentative hand gesture where her hands are lightly clasped and pointing down from the wrists. Holly now strokes her cue cards that she holds up in a small barrier ritual but this is a more mature-looking gesture than the raised clasp she has traditionally used.

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"Mulhern seems to be playing the fall guy in this double act, leaving her with the more serious, straight-guy role. She led the presenting to suggest dominance and there was a point where she playfully shut Mulhern up by placing a finger over his lips. There were a couple of moments of giggles between them to hint at some budding attempt at chemistry but overall the cute, Disney princess look seems to have gone as Holly now presents as a slightly more serious and sophisticated presence.

Last year, Holly stepped down from This Morning, citing family reasons, as she admitted it was "such a difficult goodbye" to bid farewell to the show after 14 years at the helm of the show alongside Phillip Schofield.

In a statement, she said: "I've 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. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive.

"To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. 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'. 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."

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Judi James