Holly Willoughby

Michael* · July 13, 2008

Holly Willoughby

Holly Marie Willoughby (born 10 February 1981) is a British television presenter, born in Brighton, East Sussex, UK. She was educated at Burgess Hill School in the town of Burgess Hill.

Career

Willoughby started out as an underwear model for various clients including Pretty Polly, appearing in various adverts and posters - one wall poster featuring her and three other models is still available to buy in some shops.

She started her television career in 2000, becoming one of the presenters on the short-lived CITV show S Club TV, a spin-off of the British pop band S Club 7. After that, she presented several shows for CBBC including Xchange and also the Fame Academy spin-off show on the CBBC Channel.

In 2005, Willoughby moved back to CITV to co-present the successor to SMTV Live called Ministry of Mayhem, later renamed Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown. Every Saturday morning, she usually gets covered in gunge and starred in several sketches and comedic situations, one involving her skirt being tucked into her underwear as passers by looked on in astonishment, and also interviews special guests, whilst linking to various competitions and cartoons. In 2006 she won the BAFTA children's TV presenter award.

She has since also presented on other ITV programmes, including co-presenting the ITV2 companion show for Celebrity Wrestling with Jack Osbourne, as well as occasionally presenting ITV's flagship music show CD:UK. In 2005, she had to face some of her worst fears for the CITV programme Feel the Fear. She co-presented ITV2 show Lip Service with Spencer Brown.

In January 2006, she started hosting the new ITV ice skating show Dancing on Ice with Phillip Schofield, and returned to co-host the show in 2007.

She was voted 71st in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World poll in 2005 and 30th in 2006.

She also presented Greased Lightnin, the ITV2 spin-off show to the main show Grease Is the Word. The main show was on Saturday nights (ITV), with the spin off-shown later in the evening (ITV2).

Starting on September 5, 2007, She co-hosted a dating programme with friend Fearne Cotton called Holly & Fearne Go Dating. In this programme they find dates for lonely singles. The show was hastily dropped due to poor viewing figures.

She now presents a revamped version of the Channel 4 show Streetmate for ITV2.

On September 29, 2007, she and Fearne competed in ITV's Saturday Night entertainment show, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway segment, Beat The Boys.

On November 3, 2007, she took part with her family in an episode of All Star Family Fortunes.

On December 15, 2007, she hosted The Westlife Show: Live, a one-off music show on ITV1.

Personal

Willoughby is married to Dan Baldwin, a former producer of Ministry of Mayhem. The couple moved into a flat in South London and got engaged on the same day. On 6 May 2006, live on Saturday Showdown, Willoughby announced her engagement. The wedding took place on 4th August 2007 at Amberley Castle, West Sussex. Fearne Cotton and Sarah Cawood were two of the bridesmaids and Dermot O'Leary was an usher.

Unofficial Website

IMDB Profile