Holly Willoughby is torn as she gets set to leave her family for a big career opportunity abroad, a source tells new
Mitya Underwood
As Holly Willoughby prepares to leave the UK to film a huge new TV series, a source told us she’s happy to step off the “rollercoaster ride” she’s been on for the past year, but claimed the opportunity has come at a personal cost.
Holly, 43, is currently packing her bags to fly to Central America for her new Netflix show with adventurer Bear Grylls. While it’s expected to give her presenting career a welcome boost after a difficult 12 months, it also means spending time away from “her rock”, TV exec husband Dan Baldwin, and their three children.
“She’s going to miss Dan and the family so was a bit torn about going back, but she needs to get her career back on track,” our source said. “They’re a strong couple and can do distance. Holly had quite a knock after all the trolling last year and wants to put it behind her – this is a great start.”
Holly’s troubles began in May last year when she was pulled into the whirlwind surrounding co-host Phillip Schofield’s “unwise but not illegal” affair, and his subsequent resignation from the show they’d hosted together for 14 years.
Despite being under the huge scrutiny of This Morning’s viewers, Holly continued to hold the reins until October, when she made a shock announcement, saying she was quitting the flagship morning show for the sake of “me and my family”.
She kept her work diary relatively clear following her departure, which, our source claimed, freed her up to spend much-needed time with Dan and their children – Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and Chester, eight.
The TV power couple married in 2007 at Amberley Castle in Sussex, witnessed by celebrity pals including Fearne Cotton, who was a bridesmaid and Dermot O’Leary. But despite their long relationship, the couple are rarely seen at public events together and Dan doesn’t often feature on Holly’s social media.
However, after they were spotted on a walk together recently, dressed in matching coats and baseball caps, body language expert Darren Stanton claimed the pictures showed they weren’t “fazed” about being out in public, and their mirrored body language indicated they have a “deep connection”.
“Holly and Dan are dressed very similarly, which is a nod to how in sync the two are, and it’s clear to me they are in a very, very stable re
