When a trusted face of daytime television suddenly says goodbye, it leaves millions of viewers wondering what really happened. Holly Willoughby, the golden girl of British morning TV, walked away from This Morning in October 2023 after a year that saw her on-air partnership implode and a former friend publicly admit to a secret affair that contradicted everything he had told her. This is a verified account of what happened, what we know for certain, and what remains unresolved.
Born: February 10, 1981 ·
Years on This Morning: 2009–2023 ·
Number of children: 3 ·
Number of husbands: 1 ·
Net worth (estimated): £5–10 million
Quick snapshot
- Holly Willoughby left This Morning in October 2023 after 14 years (CNN)
- Philip Schofield admitted to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague (Sky News)
- Willoughby stated Schofield lied to her about the affair (The Independent)
- Exact net worth is not publicly confirmed
- Dress size is not officially stated
- No confirmed disability or medical condition has been publicly disclosed
Six key facts define Holly Willoughby’s public profile — here they are at a glance.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Holly Marie Willoughby |
| Date of birth | February 10, 1981 |
| Occupation | Television presenter, author, model |
| Known for | This Morning (2009-2023) |
| Spouse | Dan Baldwin (m. 2007) |
| Children | 3 |
What disability does Holly Willoughby have?
There is no confirmed information from reliable sources indicating Holly Willoughby has a disability. She has not publicly disclosed any disability or medical condition. Media speculation on this topic lacks substantiated evidence.
For readers searching for a disability diagnosis, the answer is straightforward: no verified disclosure exists. Claims to the contrary come from unverified sources.
The catch: without official confirmation, any disability claim remains unverified.
What has happened to Holly Willoughby?
Why did Holly Willoughby leave This Morning?
Holly Willoughby left This Morning in October 2023 after 14 years as co-host. Her departure followed a tumultuous period triggered by Philip Schofield’s admission of an affair with a younger male colleague — a relationship he had previously denied to her. On 27 May 2023, Willoughby stated she had asked Schofield in 2020 whether rumors about the relationship were true (The Independent). She described his dishonesty as “very hurtful” (Daily Mirror).
When she announced her exit on 10 October 2023, Willoughby had been off air since 5 October amid an investigation (CNN). She released a statement saying the decision was “for me and my family” (Sky News).
What is Holly Willoughby doing now?
Willoughby has signed a new ITV deal to host a revival of the game show “You Bet!” alongside Stephen Mulhern. She remains a TV personality and continues as a children’s author. Her departure from This Morning was final; she has not returned to the programme.
The implication: Willoughby chose to rebuild her career on her own terms, moving from a daily live format to a pre-recorded game show that offers more distance from the tabloid scrutiny of her previous role.
Willoughby’s new ITV deal signals the broadcaster’s confidence in her drawing power despite the scandal. For advertisers and viewers, she remains one of the network’s highest-profile presenters — but the daily live format is gone.
What this means: her career continues, but the daily live format is a thing of the past.
How many children has Holly Willoughby got?
What are the names and ages of Holly Willoughby’s children?
Holly Willoughby has three children with her husband Dan Baldwin. Their names and birth years are:
- Harry (born 2009)
- Belle (born 2011)
- Chester (born 2014)
All three children were born during her tenure on This Morning, and she has occasionally spoken about motherhood in interviews and on the programme itself.
What happened between Phil and Holly?
What did Philip Schofield do to Holly Willoughby?
On 26 May 2023, Philip Schofield admitted to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a much younger male colleague (Sky News). Schofield later confirmed the first romantic encounter took place in his dressing room, and that the man was 20 years old at the time (Sky News).
Willoughby’s response was direct: she said she had asked Schofield in 2020 whether rumors of a relationship were true, and he denied it. When the truth emerged, she stated she felt betrayed. Her statement to the The Independent characterized his deception as “very hurtful.”
Is Holly Willoughby still friends with Philip Schofield?
No. The friendship ended. They no longer speak. Schofield resigned from ITV, and This Morning was restructured with a rotating panel of hosts rather than a fixed co-presenter duo. The partners who once defined daytime TV have not reconciled.
The pattern: Schofield’s deception created a trust breach that no public statement could repair. For viewers, the dissolution of a 14-year on-screen partnership became as dramatic as any storyline on the show itself.
“I asked him directly, and he told me it wasn’t true.”
— Holly Willoughby, statement to The Independent about asking Schofield in 2020
What dress size is Holly Willoughby?
Holly Willoughby has not publicly confirmed her dress size. Media estimates vary, typically placing her around UK size 12–14, but these are speculative. No official disclosure or verified source exists.
How many husbands has Holly Willoughby had?
Who is Holly Willoughby’s husband Dan Baldwin?
Holly Willoughby has been married once, to television producer Dan Baldwin. They married in 2007 and have three children. She has no ex-husbands. Dan Baldwin is a BAFTA-winning producer known for shows including I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (Daily Mirror).
What is Holly Willoughby’s net worth?
Estimated net worth is between £5 million and £10 million, based on her ITV salary and other ventures including book deals and brand partnerships. Exact figures are not publicly confirmed, as celebrity net worth estimates are inherently speculative without disclosure of contracts.
Timeline: The 2023 This Morning crisis
- 10 May 2023: Reports surface that Schofield and Willoughby are barely speaking amid tension rumors (ITV News)
- 11 May 2023: Schofield describes Willoughby as his “rock” on air (The Independent)
- 18 May 2023: Schofield presents his final episode of This Morning (The Independent)
- 20 May 2023: Schofield steps down from This Morning after 20 years (Daily Mirror)
- 26 May 2023: Schofield admits to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger colleague and resigns from ITV (Sky News)
- 27 May 2023: ITV says an investigation found “no evidence beyond hearsay” (Daily Mirror); Willoughby says Schofield lied to her (The Independent)
- 5 June 2023: Willoughby returns to This Morning solo (Daily Mirror)
- 10 October 2023: Willoughby announces she is leaving This Morning after 14 years (CNN)
- 2024: Willoughby signs new ITV deal to host “You Bet!” with Stephen Mulhern
“I have resigned from ITV with immediate effect.”
— Philip Schofield, statement on 26 May 2023 (Sky News)
“I have made the difficult decision to leave This Morning.”
— Holly Willoughby, statement on 10 October 2023 (Sky News)
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Separating verified truth from speculation matters in a story dominated by tabloid headlines. Here’s the distinction drawn from primary sources.
Confirmed facts
- Holly Willoughby has three children with husband Dan Baldwin.
- She left This Morning in October 2023.
- Philip Schofield admitted to an affair and resigned from ITV.
- Willoughby said Schofield lied to her about the affair.
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth is not publicly confirmed.
- Dress size is not officially stated.
- Any disability or medical condition has not been publicly disclosed.
- The full extent of ITV’s internal knowledge before the story broke remains a subject of parliamentary scrutiny.
- Details of Schofield’s first romantic encounter remain based on his own account and have not been independently verified.
The catch: much of what the public thinks it knows about Willoughby’s personal life — salary, size, health — comes from estimates, not disclosures. The verified record is narrower than the internet suggests.
standard.co.uk, variety.com, usatoday.com, deadline.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, youtube.com
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Holly Willoughby?
Holly Willoughby’s height is approximately 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in), though this has not been officially confirmed.
What is Holly Willoughby’s Instagram account?
Her official Instagram handle is @hollywilloughby. It is verified and has several million followers.
Has Holly Willoughby won any awards?
She has won several National Television Awards for Best Daytime Show alongside Philip Schofield, as well as TV Choice Awards.
What books has Holly Willoughby written?
She has authored a series of children’s books and a lifestyle/wellness book titled Truly Happy.
Will Holly Willoughby return to This Morning?
No. She has stated her departure was final and is pursuing other projects at ITV.
Is Holly Willoughby on any other TV shows?
Yes. She hosts the ITV game show revival “You Bet!” with Stephen Mulhern and previously hosted Dancing on Ice.
Related reading: Edwina Bartholomew: Health, Husband, Net Worth & More · Chris Bath: Where She Lives Now, New Job & Career Change
For ITV and for Willoughby, the stakes are straightforward. Willoughby chose distance from the daily live format that defined her for 14 years. The broadcaster chose to restructure rather than replace her permanently. For viewers in the UK, the choice is between trusting a restructured This Morning or following Willoughby to her new projects — and the ratings will tell which path the audience takes.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Insightly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.