By Jennifer Ruby and Katie Hind

Published: 09:17 EDT, 12 October 2023 | Updated: 09:17 EDT, 12 October 2023

As her future at ITV remains in doubt, BBC chiefs look set to swoop on Holly Willoughby in a bid to tempt her over to the broadcaster.

Bosses at the corporation have been keen to land the presenter for some time and the way is now clear for them to make their move with her current projects up in the air.

Ms Willoughby, 42, left her role at This Morning after 14 years on Tuesday while her presenting job on Dancing on Ice is yet to be decided.

Executives at the BBC are now discussing potential ways to entice the presenter over to them as the face of some of their biggest shows, sources say.

Ms Willoughby has been on the BBC’s radar for some time and attended last year’s Variety Showbusiness Awards as their guest of honour alongside Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore.

BBC chiefs look set to swoop on Holly Willoughby in a bid to tempt her over to the broadcaster

Her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin already has strong ties to the corporation with his company Hungry Bear Producing the Forthcoming Gladiators Revival, which will air on BBC1

Less than a year on, things have changed dramatically for the star, who has now quit the long-running daytime show to focus on her family

The presenter took to Instagram to confirm she ‘will not be returning’ to the show on Tuesday

Her family-friendly image and bubbly personality is seen by the BBC as the perfect combination to be the face of entertainment at the broadcaster.

Her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin already has strong ties to the corporation with his company Hungry Bear producing the forthcoming Gladiators revival, which will air on BBC1.

He is also behind the successful Michael McIntyre’s Big Show which has aired on the channel since 2015 and The Wheel, which launched in 2020.

The tentative move to woo Ms Willoughby was made last year in the wake of the public outrage over ‘queue-gate’- which saw her and Philip Schofield avoid waiting in line with the rest of the public to see late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.

Less than a year on, things have changed dramatically for the star, who has now quit the long-running daytime show to focus on her family.

She had been given a significant pay rise to stay at on the show in the wake of the scandal when Schofield quit in May after admitting to lying about his relationship with a younger colleague.

Ms Willougby’s departure from the show comes after a difficult year for the star, which saw her deal with Mr Schofield’s affair with a younger colleague

42-year-old Ms Willoughby tearfully made the decision to quit with her family at the weekend before telling ITV it had ‘all got too much’

Ms Willougby in February 2020, when Mr Schofield came out as gay live on the programme

Holly Willoughby, who has hosted This Morning for 14 years, announced via Instagram that she would not be returning to its famous sofa

ITV bosses had been all set to relaunch This Morning in January with Ms Wiloughby hosting alongside a new permanent presenting partner, with Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shephard expected to be announced in the role.

The show has now been thrown into chaos with bosses on the hunt for a brand new presenting pair to host.

Its rota of presenters including Alison Hammond, Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson are currently holding down the fort.

Miss Willoughby left viewers and ITV bosses in shock this week when she announced her departure from the show with immediate effect.

The channel is still in the dark as to whether she will present January’s Dancing on Ice as planned, with just weeks to go until promotional trailers featuring the hosts, judges and contestants are due to air.

Following news of her departure this week, This Morning aired a tribute to her, with heartfelt messages from viewers and presenters.

Share or comment on this article: BBC chiefs ‘are set to swoop on Holly Willoughby’ after she quit This Morning: Corporation bosses ‘are discussing ways to woo star over as her future at ITV is in doubt’

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