Holly Willoughby is set to sign new contract with This Morning to increase her £700,000-a-year pay and save the ITV show

There were fears that This Morning could be axed amid the fallout over Phillip Schofield’s affair with a much younger colleague.

And those concerns only grew after Holly Willoughby disappeared on holiday earlier this month without saying goodbye to viewers.

But a source close to the 42-year-old has revealed that, far from quitting, the presenter is set to sign a lucrative new contract – and with it save the show.

The source confirmed she will be back on the daytime programme – which she has presented for 14 years – in September as its main star.

Even This Morning’s behind-the-scenes staff were convinced that Ms Willoughby was ‘quietly quitting’ following Schofield’s resignation two months ago.

A source close to Holly Willoughby has revealed that, far from quitting, the presenter is set to sign a lucrative new contract – and with it save the show

Even This Morning’s behind-the-scenes staff were convinced that Ms Willoughby was ‘quietly quitting’ following Phillip Schofield’s resignation two months ago. Pictured: Schofield seen in public for the first time since he left ITV in May

It is likely that Ms Willoughby will be paid more than the current £700,000 salary that she receives for hosting the programme four days a week. Pictured: Ms Willoughby on holiday in Portugal 

These suspicions grew after she missed ITV’s summer party last week and failed to tell This Morning fans that she was going on holiday.

It was in stark contrast to last year when Ms Willoughby – who also missed a show last month after losing her voice following a boozy trip to Glastonbury – signed off for the summer with much fanfare alongside Schofield.

Her return will coincide with the findings of ITV’s external investigation into the toxic work culture which has taken place on the show.

ITV bosses have been under pressure to overhaul This Morning after Schofield, 61, admitted that he lied to this newspaper over a relationship he had with a much younger runner on the programme some years ago.

It prompted him to quit the network after almost three decades.

A source said: ‘Holly is going back. People have been saying she won’t for some time now but she is.

‘ITV want her back, and they are delighted she has agreed. It will be made official shortly but it will save This Morning, it will ease a huge crisis that they are in.

‘It most probably would have been game over for them if Holly had left.’

ITV bosses have been under pressure to overhaul This Morning after Schofield, 61, admitted that he lied to this newspaper over a relationship he had with a much younger runner on the programme some years ago

It is likely that Ms Willoughby will be paid more than the current £700,000 salary that she receives for hosting the programme four days a week.

She has for many months wanted to host the show alongside Alison Hammond.

Since Schofield left, Ms Willoughby has presented This Morning with Dermot O’Leary, Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle.

‘Quiet quitting’, which was first popularised on TikTok, describes a workplace behaviour whereby employees perform the bare minimum amount of work to avoid getting fired, before eventually leaving.

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