NEWS
As Holly Willoughby returns to our screens, pals say she is supporting her potential This Morning successor, Sian Welby
Three months since dramatically quitting This Morning after 14 years, Holly Willoughby returned to our screens last month with a new series of Dancing On Ice – and fans were delighted with her dazzling comeback.
PITFALLS
Meanwhile the new drama over who will replace her on This Morning gathered steam as reports emerged that Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard could be set to land the coveted jobs. But This Morning’s new “It Girl” Sian Welby is still in the running too after becoming a huge hit with viewers since stepping in to host the morning show alongside Dermot O’Leary for the last month.
Sian, 37 – who previously had stints presenting the showbiz section of This Morning – is now in the running to replace Holly, who quit in October after an alleged kidnap plot came to light, with the presenter stating that she simply had to put her family first.
The presenter-turned-wellness guru then spent three months holed-up at her London home with her TV producer husband, Dan Baldwin, sons Harry, 13, and Chester, eight, and 11-year-old daughter, Belle.
And while Sian has been dubbed as ITV’s “next golden girl”, she revealed last week that behind the scenes, she’s been stalked by a “weirdo” for the past decade.
During her appearance on the Headstrong podcast, Sian said, “I’ve had somebody for the past 10 years who has wanted to gunge me [a sexual fetish where pleasure comes from being covered in messy or wet substances].
“You do get the weirdos. That is always a scary thing I’m worried about. It is a strange job, the more successful you get in your job, the more you lose your normal life.”
And now a source tells Closer that Sian –who is engaged to radio producer Jake Beckett –is feeling anxious over the pitfalls of having such a high level of fame.
The insider says, “Sian is understandably over the moon but has anxiety over what this might mean. She’s had unwanted contact from people in the past and knows that presenting on This Morning brings awhole new level of attention.
“She’s loving doing This Morning so far, but she’s seen how a higher level of fame can affect personal lives too and she’s apprehensive.”
TURBULENT
However, the source says that Holly has been happy to offer advice and support to her successor in any way she can.
The insider says, “Sian and Holly have been in touch, with Holly praising Sian for doing such an incredible job filling her shoes and sharing how impressed she’d been watching her thrive in the role over the last few weeks, which filled Sian wi
