Holly Willloughby was one of the favourites to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the host of Strictly Come Dancing after the show’s former hosts stepped down last year
12:36, 06 Feb 2026Updated 12:36, 06 Feb 2026
Holly Willoughby’s Strictly hosting chances take a turn over ‘unnecessary drama'(Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Holly Willoughby had been one of the hot contenders in the running to host the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. The TV personality was a frontrunner – among stars including Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon and Alan Carr – but it has been claimed that BBC bosses are looking elsewhere.
Holly is said to be out of the candidates over her former connection to disgraced former ITV star Phillip Schofield. Willoughby presented multiple programmes with Schofield, including Dancing On Ice and This Morning and the duo shared a firm friendship, holidaying together with their families.
Schofield quit This Morning in 2023 after he admitted to an extramarital affair with a younger male ITV co-worker before leaving his wife in 2020. Though Willoughby had nothing to do with the scandal, she left the programme months later for unrelated reasons and has not been seen as much on television since.
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Schofield and Willoughby hosted This Morning together(Image: Getty Images)
They also presented Dancing On Ice(Image: WireImage)
But, after Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they would be leaving Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the last series, attentions turned to seasoned presenter Holly as one of the favourites to takeover.
A source told The Sun: “There was much talk about Holly joining the show. Many think she is brilliant and more than deserving of the role, but the truth is some execs were also fearful. She may be squeaky clean, but she will always have that association with Phillip.”
They added that Strictly has recently weathered a string of scandals – including claims of bullying against some pro dancers who subsequently left the show. The source, as such, claimed that Holly had been ruled out as that “avoids any unnecessary drama”.
Willoughby stepped back from This Morning, which is now hosted by Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard Monday through Thursday and Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond on Fridays, in October 2023.
Willoughby stepped down from This Morning in 2023(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She left the programme after she was told a former security guard had planned to abduct and murder her. She was taken into protective custody after she was made aware that Gavin Plumb had contacted a man, who was actually an undercover police officer, about his plans. Plumb was convicted of soliciting murder, encouraging or assisting the commission of kidnap, and encouraging or assisting the commission of rape in 2024.
This came just months after Willoughby fell out with Schofield over his scandal and reportedly issued ITV with an ultimatum. After his departure, Willoughby said on air: “It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”
But a broadcasting executive told The Times that she had said to ITV that they either sack Schofield or watch her quit. She had previously said that she was hurt Schofield had lied to her when she asked him about rumours of an affair. She shared that she was left feeling “shaken, troubled and let down”.
The Mirror contacted reps for Willoughby and Strictly Come Dancing about claims she is no longer in the running for the hosting role. A BBC spokesperson maintained that plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 would be announced in due course.
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