Inside Holly Willoughby’s difficult year after legal | UK News

Holly Willoughby has had another difficult year after leaving This Morning back in 2023. The ITV star, who left the daytime show after it emerged her co-star Phillip Schofield engaged in an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a colleague, has confronted legal battles, show axes and other “secret stresses” in 2025, and is probably going wanting ahead to a more settled 2026.

After being “mocked” by her former co-presenter on his Channel 5 show Cast Away at the end of 2024, Holly has understandably stayed quiet on the subject of Phil and his affair. He appeared to take a swipe at Holly asking viewers “are you okay?” on her first section after the whole lot got here to mild, and made no point out of her as he headed to a desert island to survive with only a digicam for days.

Show axe

In March 2025, it was confirmed that Dancing On Ice – offered by Holly and Stephen Mulhern – has been shelved for the foreseeable future, and won’t return in 2026. ITV said: “Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the cast and crew who have worked on the show since 2006, and over the previous 17 series, for all of their hard work both on and off the ice.”

Holly broke her silence at the time, saying: “I will miss it hugely, but I count myself so lucky to have had it for as long as we did.”

Hefty tax bill

Holly’s media firm Roxy Media hasn’t managed to stay out of the spotlight in 2025 either, as in April it faced a legal battle over an unpaid tax bill amounting to £377,000. Holly did not turn up at court for the hearing over the company, which she shares with husband Dan Baldwin.

She was given 12 weeks to stump up the costs.

Roxy Media’s latest accounts filed at Companies House in 2024 showed it owed £329,715 in corporation tax, as well as £16,577 in VAT. The cash in its bank was down from £973,645 in 2024 to just £82,279 in 2024.

The case returned to court in November 2025, with a HMRC spokesperson stating: “The debt is now being dealt with in a tribunal appeal and no date has been set for that, so in the circumstances we simply ask for the petition to be dismissed.”

Car crash

In August 2025, Holly crashed into a moped rider while driving in her Mini Cooper – breaking the person’s neck. Holly had a “lapse of judgement” and turned proper without indicating in West London, probably without checking her mirrors, and crashed into the passing scooter.

The rider fell to the ground, fracturing a vertebra in his neck and breaking a toe.

Holly admitted to a charge of driving without due care and attention, pleading guilty via post – though she did not attend a court hearing at Lavender Hill Crown Court.

She was fined £1,653 and had to pay £130 in costs as well as a £661 victim surcharge, and six points were added to her licence.

Stalker’s appeal

In October 2025, Holly faced further stress when Gavin Plumb – the former security guard jailed for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder her in July 2024 – appealed his sentence.

Plumb was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years after being convicted of soliciting murder and inciting rape and kidnap of Willoughby. Bottles of chloroform, cable ties, a ball gag and rope were found in his Essex flat.

The appeal was denied after Plumb’s legal team argued there was “no suggestion of lasting psychological harm” for Holly.

Lord Justice Edis said the argument was “ultimately unpersuasive” as the plot was “specifically contemplated and intended” by Plumb.

‘Secret stress’

Aside from appearing on Celebrity Bear Hunt and Dancing on Ice, Holly hasn’t had any on-screen credits for 2025. But rumours have been swirling that she’s in the running to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing.

The hypothesis is allegedly inflicting Holly “secret stress”, with one source telling Closer: “Holly’s Strictly talks are in full swing. The show would put her straight back at the top of primetime TV – it could be her big comeback.

“But she’s really second-guessing it. People think she’s thick-skinned, but the amount of online hate has shaken her. The constant criticism is making Holly doubt herself and question her place in the industry. In some ways she feels like she’s being forced into turning in down.”