Speculative Holly Willoughby fans have predicted a new TV role is the reason for her 'unexpected' absence from This Morning this week and it's one she was desperate to land.
While viewers of the ITV show were fully aware that the popular host was off over Easter, along with Phillip Schofield, because the pair kept with tradition and took their usual 'holiday' break, they were fully expecting to see Holly reunited with Phillip on Monday morning.
So it came as a shock when Lorraine Kelly, herself returning from a fortnight off, crossed from her show to the This Morning studio to be greeted by Phillip and new co-host Rochelle Humes.
Holly had told her social media followers on Sunday that she would be missing in action for another week, posting: "Vitamin d, caffeine and a side order of distraction from Chester.
"Working on something else next week which I can’t wait to share with you all.... thank you to the lovely @rochellehumes for keeping my side of the sofa warm."
While some viewers' attention has been focused on the possibility of Rochelle getting a more full-time position on This Morning, with some identifying her 'perfect' co-host, others have been trying to work out the reason for Holly's longer than expected absence.
And many believe it's due to her landing a new TV role, with that role being the one she begged for - a part in Midsomer Murders.
After Holly and Phillip made a cheeky call out for producers of the hit ITV drama to get in touch about her being on the show, its star Neil Dudgeon, known to millions of viewers as DCI Barnaby, said: "We have all had a big talk about who we want to appear on Midsomer and we have decided that we want Holly Willoughby to appear in an episode of Midsomer Murders very soon."
Remembering that, one fan joked: "Holly's not back yet because she's on her millionth take for her line in Midsomer Murders" and another tweeted: "I think Holly Willoughby is working on Midsomer Murders"
Holly is no stranger to a cameo in an ITV crime series, having previously being given a guest part in Miss Marple as part of a birthday surprise.
Telling co-host Phillip about her desire to be in Midsomer Murders, she said: "I've never been in that one. I was in Miss Marple," to which he responded: "I knew you were in one of them!"
Offering more details on her appearance in Miss Marple, Holly added: "The Pale Horse. I was burned at the stake!"
