• [Daily Mirror Icon]
• 3am
• Celebrity News
• Celebrity Juice

Holly Willoughby praises pals for keeping her going after tough years

EXCLUSIVE: TV star Holly Willoughby has been through a tough time since leaving ITV's This Morning, but she has a coterie of famous pals including Nicole Appleton and Emma Bunton who have been there for her

[Holly Willoughby has been leaning on her friends in the past difficult years]

View 6 Images

Holly Willoughby has been leaning on her friends in the past difficult years

After a difficult few years, Holly Willoughby has spoken of her love for the trusted pals whove got her through those dark times.

Its no secret that the star has been through a rocky patch since she stepped down from co-hosting ITV s This Morning back in October 2023. As well as being largely absent from our TV screens since then, the mum-of-three was the target of a horrifying rape and kidnap plot, which saw crazed stalker Gavin Plumb jailed for life in 2024.

But behind closed doors, Holly has always been able to lean on a coterie of fiercely loyal showbiz friends whove stood by her through thick and thin.

[Holly enjoyed a lunch date together with her girl squad, which includes All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Loose Women host Christine Lampard]

View 6 Images

Holly enjoyed a lunch date together with her girl squad, which includes All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Loose Women host Christine Lampard

[She often posts their lunches on Instagram]

View 6 Images

She often posts their lunches on Instagram

Last week, Holly paid tribute to her girl squad, which includes All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Loose Women host Christine Lampard, after they enjoyed a boozy lunch date together in London.

Holly, 45, took centre stage at the get-together, which was also attended by her pal Shiarra Bell, who is Vice President of Artist Relations at Universal Music. The glam squad appeared to be channelling iconic TV show Sex And The City as they quaffed cocktails in a playful video shared on Hollys social media.

Captioning the clip, which had the SATC theme tune as its soundtrack, Holly wrote, As Carrie Bradshaw said They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style. Love my girls.

The lunch date followed reports that Holly is planning a huge comeback on YouTube. She is reportedly set to launch her own channel on the platform, complete with a show similar to This Morning called Together , which is set to be produced by her husband Dan Baldwins production company Hungry Bear.

Reports say the stylish star also plans to sell clothes via the channel, which is due to be launched later this year.

According to our source, Holly wouldnt have been able to do any of it without the support of her famous friends.

[Holly has had a hard time recently after leaving ITV and having a stalker]

6

View 6 Images

Holly has had a hard time recently after leaving ITV and having a stalker

[But she has relied on her friends to keep her going, according to our sources]

6

View 6 Images

But she has relied on her friends to keep her going, according to our sources

Holly has had a really tough time, what with leaving ITV and the ordeal with her stalker, the source said. But one thing she has relied on is her friends. They are a very close-knit group and she has survived because of their support. Its all been quite traumatic for her, but shes relied on them and will continue to do so.

While Nicole might be the one Holly turns to when she wants to let her hair down, were told Emma and Christine are her go-tos when it comes to life and career guidance.

Emma and Christine really know about the ups and downs of fame, how the public can love you or hate you and how it is all quite vacuous at times, our source said. They really understand Hollys feelings, and Emma is a great example of forging a new career and doing things on her own terms. Holly finds that really inspiring.

Holly stunned fans when she stepped down from This Morning, five months after co-host and former pal Phillip Schofield quit amid the scandal over his affair with a younger male co-worker.

She also stepped away from ITVs relaunched game show You Bet! after just one series, having also appeared as a panellist on its spin-off show You Bet! On Tour, while her other big programme, Dancing On Ice, was rested last year.

Aside from a stint fronting Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt early last year, Holly has largely been absent from our screens, but our source says her pals are behind her every step of the way as she prepares to make her big comeback on YouTube.

She wants to be the number one presenter again, but its been very difficult to climb back up that ladder, the source said. No one really understands what its like to be in the spotlight and to then have the rug pulled out from under your feet. But shes very blessed with her friends, whove been helping to keep her going.

Christine is realistic about the ups and downs of TV and reminds Holly that its a fickle world and to hold on and wait for the next big thing and it will come. The other girls are there emotionally for her and really let Holly be Holly. Thats so supportive and it means a lot to her.

[Holly is known for her love of partying behind the scenes, with former Celebrity Juice co-host Keith Lemon once describing her as a party animal"]

View 6 Images

Holly is known for her love of partying behind the scenes, with former Celebrity Juice co-host Keith Lemon once describing her as a party animal"

Despite her squeaky-clean image as the nations TV sweetheart, Holly is known for her love of partying behind the scenes, with former Celebrity Juice co-host Keith Lemon once describing her as a party animal. And her pal, former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan, once branded her a very dangerous drinking buddy.

Luckily, if Holly ever fancies a night out on the tiles, pal Nicole and her sister Natalie are only a phone call away.

Shes very close with the Appletons, who are good fun and cheer her up. She can call them night or day, our source said. Shes trying to keep positive and surround herself with good mates, making sure she sees them often and has fun. Shes out a lot.

Judging by her beaming smile at her recent lunch, Holly is more than getting by with a little help from her friends.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

[Daily Mirror Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.