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Susan Knox & Daniel Hall

Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton rekindling long-time friendship after drifting in recent years

TV stars Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton are said to be taking steps to heal their friendship after drifting apart in recent years.

The pair, who met in the TV industry during their teenage years have a friendship that goes back more than two decades, but have drifted apart in recent years with their once seemingly unbreakable bond diminishing, reports the Mirror. Holly and Fearne have taken different career paths with Holly hosting This Morning and Dancing On Ice alongside on-screen partner Phillip Schofield, while Fearne has had success with her podcast series Happy Place.

With both focusing on their careers and family life and drifting apart in recent years, Holly and Fearne made the decision to work on their friendship after both turning 40 last year according to an inside source.

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The insider told Closer : "Holly and Fearne are in touch more than ever after rekindling their friendship. They had grown apart over the years as their careers and lives took them in different directions, but now they have so much in common - bonding over juggling motherhood, their careers, and their mental health."

"When they got back in touch, they both admitted fault over the fact they had gone so long without checking in with each other, and it quickly felt as though no time had passed at all. They were just as close as they always were."

Fearne and Holly have been best pals since they were teenagers (Instagram)

Despite the pair having rekindled their friendship, they appeared to drift apart due to having very different social lives. Holly is said to have enjoyed boozy award nights out with her colleagues on This Morning, including Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, while Fearne admitted that her social circle was 'miniscule' compared to Holly's, preferring to be tucked up in bed at 10pm.

However, when Holly found herself feeling 'numb and adrift' ahead of her 40th birthday last February, Fearne was one of the first friends she reached out to. The source continued: "Fearne is the best friend you could ask for because she has advice on almost every topic thanks to her podcast, and sometimes Holly feels as though nobody knows her better than Fearne.

Fearne Cotton wishes Holly Willoughby a happy 40th birthday (Instagram)

"They have so much common ground and history together and Holly has been relying on Fearne for advice on self-help. It’s really helped that she understands the pressures of the TV industry, too."

Have you rekindled an old friendship after drifting apart? Let us know!

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