Where is Holly Willoughby and why was she not on This Morning?

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last updated 12 July 2023

Holly Willoughby is absent from This Morning and it has not gone unnoticed by fans, who have been asking: ‘Where is Holly Willoughby and why is she not on This Morning?’

The TV star has hosted This Morning for the past 12 years, usually only taking breaks during the school holidays when the duo are replaced by hosts like Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. However, viewers have noticed that she has been absent from the flagship ITV show in recent days.

It’s been a difficult few months for Holly; her mother-in-law Sandra died last week and her TV ‘husband’ and co-star Phillip Schofield resigned from This Morning after admitting to an affair with a colleague. So, it's no surprise that viewers want to know why she's not on air - especially after This Morning was not on to make way for the FIFA Women's World Cup. Read on to find out everything we know about Holly’s absence...

Where is Holly Willoughby and why is she not on This Morning today?

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby is reported to be taking her ‘usual and planned’ two-month break over the summer and she is due to return to our screens in September. Holly's last show before her break took place on Thursday 6 July, though she did not mention her upcoming absence at the time.

The news comes after Holly shared on Instagram that her mother-in-law Sandra had sadly passed away. Sharing a tribute to her husband Dan Baldwin's mum, Holly wrote on Instagram: "Sleep well Sandra… Nonna, Mother, Sister, friend… To know her was to know strength itself… Raising four children after losing her husband, she then lost a son and more recently her sister. Thank you for your guidance, advice and bottomless Prosecco. Thank you for raising the incredible man I’m married to… I see your strength every day in our children… Be at peace…Love you."

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Holly's Instagram followers were quick to show their support for the presenter underneath the post, with radio presenter Vanessa Feltz writing, "Sending love to you Dan and the whole family," while Davina McCall added, "Im sorry holly. love to Dan and the kids too xxxx"

Holly's absence means that Friday hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary are covering her from Monday to Thursday.

How long is Holly off This Morning for?

Holly is expected to be absent from This Morning until September, meaning she will be missing from the show for two months in total.

The TV presenter usually takes time off over the summer but it appears she has started her holiday earlier than expected this year and in a break from the norm, the host didn’t announce her upcoming absence when she last appeared on the show on Thursday, simply signing off: “See you, bye.” It's not clear whether the passing of her mother-in-law has played a part in this.

When is Holly Willoughby back on This Morning?

We don't know the exact date that Holly Willoughby will be back on This Morning, but we do know that it will be sometime in September.

This Morning is on ITV weekdays from 10-12.30pm, and available to watch on the ITV hub.

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Holly Willoughby Phillip Schofield

Georgia is a Celebrity and Royal Writer working across GoodTo and Woman & Home, and the Director and Founder of communications company Farq Media. Prior to this she was Online Editor at New! Magazine – managing all of their digital content and social media accounts. Where she interviewed all of the hottest reality TV stars and spent far too much time commuting to London. She trained at Nottingham Trent University – where she achieved First Class Honours in Print Journalism whilst juggling copious amounts of work experience, freelance writing, blogging and having far too much fun with the dance society.