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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Kate Lally

Dancing On Ice's Holly Willoughby and shows you may have forgotten she presented

She's the queen of TV, with viewers not being able to get enough of Holly Willoughby.

Having been on our screens for more than twenty years, she has now returned to Dancing On Ice for its 14th series.

While the 40-year-old is known for co-hosting ITV's This Morning, Holly has a long-spanning TV career, with many different presenting roles.

READ MORE: Dancing on Ice's Sean Rice dies aged 49 as celebs pay tribute

From working on CBBC, to presenting the X Factor's spin-off show, and being a frequent face on Celebrity Juice.

Let's take a look at how Holly got her big break, and what she has done since she first appeared on TV.

How Holly rose to fame

Holly began her television career working on S Club TV on CITV in 2000 after winning an audition.

While Tina was doing her dance, and John was looking for romance, this show saw actors represent an alternative version of the band.

Later, Holly persuaded a friend to make a show-reel of her. This secured her an agent who then contacted the BBC, with Holly then presenting a factual entertainment programme for children called XChange in 2002.

In 2004, Holly rejoined CITV to co-present Ministry of Mayhem on Saturday mornings with Stephen Mulhern.

On this programme she met her future husband Dan Baldwin, one of the show's producers.

In 2006, the show's title was changed to Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown.

Holly was also a brief replacement for Cat Deeley on CD:UK in 2005.

Dancing On Ice

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for Dancing On Ice (ITV Plc)

Holly made her move to prime-time TV in 2006, when she was first paired up with Phillip Schofield.

The pair co-presented Dancing On Ice - the ice skating dance show that sees celebrities compete on skates under the tutelage of Olympic legends Torvill and Dean.

Xtra Factor

Holly was the face of The Xtra Factor in 2008 (Talkback Thames / Syco Entertainment Productions)

Following in friend Fearne Cotton's footsteps, Holly began to present the The X Factor spin off show in 2008.

That year saw music fans wowed by Alexandra Burke and JLS.

She returned to host again for series six - which was when Joe McElderry won.

Celebrity Juice

Keith Lemon and Holly Willoughby on the Celebrity Juice Christmas Special (talkbackTHAMES)

It probably wasn't a huge leap from presenting children's TV to dealing with Keith Lemon.

Holly became a team captain on the late night game show in 2009, alongside Fearne Cotton.

The three were a huge hit with viewers, until Fearne announced her departure from the show in December 2018.

Holly left Celebrity Juice in 2020, calling her time on the show "fantastic chaos".

The Voice

Holly and Reggie Yates were the face of The Voice when it first launched in the UK on the BBC back in 2012.

The original coaches were Tom Jones, Jessie J, The Script's Danny O'Donoghue and will.i.am.

Holly and Reggie hosted the show for two years, before Emma Willis and Marvin Humes took over in 2014.

Speaking of her decision to leave the show, Holly said: "Finding the right balance between my work and family life is my priority".

Surprise, Surprise

Holly on Surprise Surprise (©ITV Plc)

Following in Cilla Black's footsteps, Holly hosted the heartwarming show which was revived in 2012.

There were often tears, as the programme saw members of the public being chosen to have their dreams made a reality.

Initially a one-off episode, the show ran for three series' - with Cilla herself appearing in one special instalment.

Meet The Parents

Holly hosted Meet The Parents on ITV (ITV Studios)

As if working all week wasn't enough, Holly also began helping singletons find love on a Saturday night in 2016.

ITV dating show Meet The Parents saw mums and dads vet prospective dates for their children.

The contestant looking for romance could ask their potential suitors’ parents anything.

Cue beans being spilled and cringe-worthy anecdotes being told.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here

Holly joined Dec for I'm A Celeb... in 2018 (ITV)

In August 2018, it was announced that Willoughby would host the eighteenth series of I'm a Celebrity alongside Declan Donnelly as his usual partner Anthony McPartlin took a year-long break.

In a tweet at the time, the This Morning host said: "I couldn't be more excited to have been asked to stand alongside Dec for the next jungle adventure.

"I love Ant and want to send him my best wishes and support for a continued recovery. These are big shoes, not to fill, but just to keep warm for a little bit."

The Mirror revealed Dec had been the one to suggest Holly as his co-star, after Ant went into rehab.

This Morning

Holly has now presented the morning show for twelve years (JAY ROWDEN)

A look back at Holly's TV career wouldn't be complete without mentioning This Morning.

Holly joined the show back in 2009, replacing Phil's previous co-host Fern Britton.

The pair have kept their spots on the sofa ever since, with Eamonn Homes, Ruth Langsford, Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary regularly presenting on Fridays and during school holidays.

Dancing On Ice airs Sundays at 6.30pm on ITV and the ITV Hub.

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