Holly Willoughby made a pact to “bring back the fun” before she returned to television after taking around three months off, according to reports.
The 42-year-old presenter finally appeared on screens again during the Dancing on Ice launch show on ITV on Sunday night.
Beforehand, Willoughby made a deal to keep the spirit of the show light and fun with new co-host Stephen Mulhern, an insider reportedly said.
The pair used to present the children’s programme Ministry of Mayhem together in the early 2000s.
The source told The Sun: “Holly thrives on live telly and no more so than in those madcap days splurging slime and reacting to live chaos when she and Stephen first began on Ministry of Mayhem.
“They've talked about finding that same fun tone for Dancing on Ice and Holly sees this as a great way to embrace this big moment.
“This is incredibly important to her but they both think recapturing the free-and-easy tone of their early days is the way to go. She wants to lean on the strength of their past as she looks to the future.”
Willoughby and the team also made sure to get together for a chicken roast dinner before the live show, a different insider said.
Before the programme, the presenter posted a photograph of her in a silver, sparkly dress with the caption: “Let's do this one sequin at a time.”
During the show, the mother-of-three welcomed Mulhern, 46, who has now permanently replaced 61-year-old Phillip Schofield, who left ITV last year after being exposed for an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger colleague.
Mulhern said he “couldn’t wait to be reuniting” with Willoughby.
Over the weekend, the official This Morning's Instagram account posted: "So great to see Holly Willoughby back on our screens where she belongs. Good luck for tonight's launch of Dancing on Ice - we'll be watching!"
Willoughby quit This Morning last October after 14 years "for me and my family".
It came days after after a man was charged with soliciting to commit murder over an alleged plot to kidnap the TV presenter.
