Holly Willoughby has shared that she was uncertain about returning to public life following a "horrific kidnap, rape and murder plot" that deeply affected her.
Willoughby, 45, is set to launch a new YouTube show titled "Together" on July 28. She is self-funding the project, which will involve her producing and presenting, as well as conducting celebrity interviews. The show will feature five sections: Talk Together, Cook Together, Look Good Together, Better Together, and Hang Out Together.
Speaking about her hiatus from the spotlight, Willoughby stated, "If I'm being really honest, everybody knows what happened to me and I just needed time out. I needed to go, 'Do you know, I need to park all of that. I'm just going to spend time with my family and my friends and see how I am and see what happens. And then when it feels right I'll go back." She candidly admitted, "But there was a time when I wasn't sure whether that would ever be a thing."
Willoughby indicated that she feels ready to re-engage with her career, telling The Sun, "I feel good now, though. I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t. This is a really good sign that I feel ready."
In January, The Mail on Sunday reported that Willoughby, who has nearly 25 years of television experience and was reportedly earning £730,000 annually at ITV, was developing a new digital project. Her new show is being produced in collaboration with a team at her husband Dan Baldwin's television production company, Hungry Bear, known for programs like "Gladiators" and "Michael McIntyre's Big Show."
A friend of Willoughby's commented to The Mail on Sunday that the presenter wanted to create her own venture, noting the changing television landscape and the rise of digital platforms. "Holly has seen an opportunity now to start something new, which has a future, unlike the kind of stuff she has done in the past," the friend said.
Willoughby's career took a significant turn after she departed ITV's "This Morning" following the revelation of a plot to kidnap, rape, and murder her. Former security guard Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024 for the crime. The incident left Willoughby understandably shaken.
Although she had returned to television for a period, hosting "Dancing On Ice" and Netflix's "Celebrity Bear Hunt," Willoughby believes her future lies beyond traditional broadcasting. While she maintains a positive relationship with ITV, she has declined further opportunities with the network, including a potential hosting role on "You Bet."
"But Holly has an idea and she knows if she doesn't do it now, she will never know if it will work. Of course it is a risk, but she wanted a change. Not only will she be in front of a camera but she will be in charge behind it, too, and that is very exciting," a friend added. The friend also addressed what they described as "misogyny towards Holly," stating that critics who claim she is finished in her career are "just bitter, and are usually men."