Holly Willoughby faced new pressure as rumors grew that she could join Strictly come dance as presenter after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departure.
As rumors grew, insiders said Holly was feeling stressed and turning to her close friends for support.
A source shared that her friends helped her through many difficult times over the past few years and were now by her side again.
The buzz of Strictly became heavy on her and she found it difficult to handle at times. However, her friends encouraged her to stay strong and reminded her that this could turn into something good.
Leigh Francis, who has known her since her Celebrity Juice days, cheered her up by sending her a fun and loving voice note. She saved it on her phone because it made her smile.
Emma Bunton, the Appleton sisters and Christine Lampard also came over to comfort her.
The source explained that Holly confided in her husband Dan Baldwin and their children Harry, Belle and Chester.
They helped her get through what she called dark and difficult times. She’s faced a lot in recent years, as her friendship with Phillip Schofield ended after their affair became public.
Months later, the reality star walked away from This Morning after being the subject of a terrifying kidnapping and murder plot.
He also lost long-running shows and had to deal with public criticism.
With the Strictly role now up in the air, Holly recently said she was enjoying watching the show from home.
Insiders said she seemed calm on screen, but often felt alone and vulnerable behind the scenes.
Still, Holly wanted next year to be a new beginning and believed she could rise to the challenge, explaining that she often performed better when the pressure was greater.
