MORE LOLLY , HOLLY?
ITV bosses are scrambling to put together a bumper new deal for This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby amid fears she could quit.
With months to go before Holly’s two-year rolling contract expires in December, negotiations about a renewal have not yet begun.
And sources say chiefs are now panicking that the host, 42, may walk away after last year’s Queuegate scandal left her “devastated”.
TV favourite Holly was hit by a fierce public backlash in September after she and co-host Phillip Schofield were accused of skipping the line to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at Westminster Abbey.
She is said to have been “frustrated” by bosses’ handling of the situation at the time – in particular their silence as the story broke. And the decision she should make the pair’s TV apology alone rankled.
One source said: “The Queuegate backlash was absolutely devastating for Holly. But what made matters worse was the feeling that it was mishandled.
“ITV’S decision to remain silent before finally issuing a statement was frustrating, as it felt they were shutting the door after the horse had bolted. And then to add insult to injury, Holly was left to explain the pair’s decision to the nation by herself, while Phil remained silent and escaped that task.
“The feeling was that she bore the brunt of the criticism over the scandal, and that – unsurprisingly – left Holly feeling quite bruised.
“The bosses know that last year was an incredibly hard one for her and as such they are not approaching her contract negotiations with the same confidence as in previous years.”
Holly also hosts Dancing on
Ice with Phillip.
A source close to the star said Holly has “no plans” to leave This Morning.
An ITV spokesman said:
“We do not comment on artists’ contracts.” feedback@people.co.uk