Real reason Holly Willoughby quit This Morning – and its not alleged murder plot

Holly Willoughby has stunned TV viewers as well as her co-stars and fellow celebrities by announcing she's sensationally quitting This Morning.

The 42 year old star took to Instagram on Tuesday, 10 October, to share a shock statement that said she was leaving after 14 years and "will not be returning."

Holly's statement began: “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."

Celebrities including Alison Hammond, Rochelle Humes and Ferne McCann have shown their support – but a source has told the Daily Star that it's not just the alleged 'kidnap and murder plot' that has influenced Holly's decision.

Holly had been on 'indefinite leave' from This Morning after the alleged 'plot' came to light last week. Gavin Plumb appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Friday, 6 October, charged with soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap.

The source said that Holly has been secretly thinking about the move for weeks following social media backlash against her, and that she spent the weekend tearfully talking things through with her family.

They explained: “Holly spoke with her children and then with her husband Dan and her parents at length. She absolutely loves This Morning and has devoted herself to the show. But recent events have changed everything and Holly has to put her family first."

ITV bosses are also still awaiting the results of a potentially explosive external review following Holly's This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield's exit earlier this year after he admitted to a relationship with a younger male former colleague.

In September, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall updated the Culture, Media and Sport committee to say the external review is being led by Jane Mulcahy KC and she has “conducted multiple witness interviews, with further interviews set to continue during the course of September”.

ITV bosses said Phillip and his former lover “repeatedly denied” allegations of a relationship until the star quit and formally apologised.

The daytime programme has continued to face scrutiny following his departure, including claims the show fostered a “toxic” bullying culture. Holly exclusively told OK! back in September how this was a "world I don't recognise".

The Daily Star source continued: “Alarm bells are ringing at This Morning. Holly’s departure is a massive loss and the external review has still not yet seen the light of day. It is raising questions internally about how damaging the findings could be and the impact it could have."

Holly and Phillip, who had presented This Morning together since 2009, also co-hosted Dancing On Ice before his ITV resignation. It is not clear yet whether she will present the next series on the celebrity competition which is due to return in the new year and whose full line-up is already confirmed.

Last month, This Morning lost its best daytime show title at the National Television Awards to the BBC’s The Repair Shop.

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