Holly Willoughby’s This Morning colleagues Alison Hammond and Rochelle Humes lead tributes to the star as she quits ITV show
Holly Willoughby’s This Morning colleagues have rallied behind her as she announces she has quit the ITV show with immediate effect.
The TV star, 42, took to Instagram on Tuesday to confirm she ‘will not be returning’ to the show, days after an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her was foiled.
She said it was an ‘honour to just be part of its story’ but that she feels ‘I have to make this decision for me and my family’.
Holly’s Instagram post was flooded with supportive comments from her This Morning co-stars.
Alison Hammond, who has presented alongside Holly since Phillip Schofield stepped down earlier this year, said ‘this is a very sad day’ but reiterated that she loved the presenter.
‘Sad day’: Holly Willoughby’s This Morning colleagues have rallied behind her as she announces she has quit the ITV show with immediate effect
Another of the shows roster of presenters Rochelle Humes wrote: ‘This is a sad day ❤️ We love you x’
Regular contributor Vanessa Feltz added: ‘We will miss you so very much my darling.’
Juliet Sear, TV cook and baking expert, posted that she was ‘sad’ to see Holly go, but also wished her ‘loads of positive things’ in her ‘new chapter’.
‘It’s been wonderful working with you for the last 8 years and making your birthday cakes to for the last 14,’ Ms Sear wrote. ‘Lots of love to you and you family.’
Another of the show’s chefs Clodagh Mckenna posted: ‘Your star will continue to shine everywhere you go ⭐️ You have given us all so much love and light, in front and behind the cameras ♥️ I am so grateful for everything you have given me… I love you so much darling beautiful Holly, the sunshine of our days ♥️♥️’
Carol Vorderman posted: ‘Wishing you and your family peace and strength in what must be a very difficult time after the news of last week Holly x, I know that the team will miss you very much. Take care.’
Holly, acknowledging that leaving is ‘such a difficult goodbye’, has thanked the network for ‘being supportive’.
She also expressed her gratitude to the ‘wonderful viewers’ that she says have been ‘loyal, so supportive and the very best company’ over the years.
Her exit from the show comes after a former Pizza Hut was remanded in custody last week charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder Holly.
News: The TV star, 42, took to Instagram on Tuesday to confirm she ‘will not be returning’ to the show, days after an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her was foiled
Shock announcement: Holly’s Instagram post was flooded with supportive comments from her This Morning co-stars
Messages: Alison Hammond, who has presented alongside Holly since Phillip Schofield stepped down earlier this year, said ‘this is a very sad day’
Friend: Another of the shows roster of presenters Rochelle Humes wrote: ‘This is a sad day ❤️ We love you x’
Tribute: One of the show’s chefs Clodagh Mckenna posted: ‘Your star will continue to shine everywhere you go’
Friends: Holly’s friends and colleagues flooded her comments with supportive words
Gavin Plumb, 36, from Harlow, Essex, is accused of offences including soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap in relation to the broadcaster, allegedly contacting a hitman in the US and booking him flights.
The TV presenter pulled out of hosting This Morning on Thursday and her London home was reportedly being guarded by police after Plumb was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap.
Holly’s full statement today said: ‘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.
‘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.
Friends: Regular contributor Vanessa Feltz, pictured with Holly and co-presenter Dermot O’Leary on the show last month, added: ‘We will miss you so very much my darling’
Family: The stars sister Kelly sent her own message, telling her sibling that she loved her
‘I will miss you all so much.’
An ITV boss said the broadcaster is looking forward to working with Holly ‘in the future’ following the news she is quitting This Morning.
In a statement, Kevin Lygo, managing director of media and entertainment at ITV, told MailOnline: ‘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.’
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