Former This Morning star Holly Willoughby is unable to co-host the second series of game show You Bet! due to scheduling conflicts, ITV has said

Holly Willoughby has been ITV’s most prominent female presenter for over a decade, fronting the network’s flagship daytime show This Morning as well as some of its biggest entertainment programmes.

However, it has been claimed that she has dashed ITV’s plans to make her their new Saturday night star. She recently turned down a lucrative offer to host a fresh series of the classic game show You Bet! despite the network’s hopes that she would take on the role.

According to ITV insiders, Willoughby had to decline due to being “busy with other commitments,” making it impossible for her to return to the show. She previously co-hosted a two-part special of the programme last year alongside Stephen Mulhern.

Although details of her other commitments remain unclear, the 44-year-old presenter recently gained international recognition with her Netflix debut on Celebrity Bear Hunt. The streaming giant was reportedly so impressed with her that sources say they are “very keen” to collaborate with her on future projects with global reach.

Holly Willoughby hands ITV bosses a huge blow ( 
Image:
Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Holly Willoughby is taking life ‘one day at a time’ ( 
Image:
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

A source told The Mail: “You Bet! was a hit when it returned for two episodes, and ITV executives were eager to bring it back for a full series. Holly and Stephen had fantastic chemistry, and they both did an amazing job, so they were invited back. But Holly politely declined—she has other obligations and couldn’t make it work. She’s in high demand, and now that she’s no longer tied to This Morning four days a week, she has more freedom to explore different opportunities, including some on a global scale.

“Celebrity Bear Hunt was a major moment for her—it marked her first Netflix project, and both she and the company loved the experience. There’s a strong possibility that more collaborations could be on the horizon. The world is now Holly’s oyster, with so many doors opening for her.”

An ITV spokesperson said: “Unfortunately Holly couldn’t commit to the dates to host the new series of You Bet!, but will hopefully appear as a guest panellist on one of the shows in the new series.

While Willoughby has opted out of You Bet!, Mulhern, 47, who co-hosts Dancing on Ice with her, will still be involved. ITV is now searching for a new co-host to join him. Meanwhile, speculation is growing that Sunday night’s episode of Dancing on Ice could have been Willoughby’s last, amid rumors that the show may not return due to declining viewership. Insiders at the network say no final decision has been made but admit its future is uncertain.

This now leaves Willoughby with no remaining long-term commitments at ITV, but sources insist that the network is eager to collaborate with her whenever possible. Over the years, she has taken on several high-profile roles for the broadcaster, including stepping in for Ant McPartlin on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2018 and hosting The Xtra Factor as well as a revival of Surprise, Surprise