‘I can smile again and finally look forward to a happy Christmas after all this time.’

Holly Willoughby is reportedly delaying her Dancing On Ice decision (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock)

Holly Willoughby is reportedly delaying her Dancing On Ice decision until after celebrating Christmas with her family.

The former This Morning presenter, 42, quit the ITV daytime programme after 14 years earlier this year, saying that it was ‘a difficult goodbye’.

She has yet to confirm whether she’ll be returning to Dancing On Ice, with recent reports suggesting Stephen Mulhern has replaced Phillip Schofield on the show.

Schofield, 61, quit This Morning and resigned from ITV in full after admitting his ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair, with his replacement yet to be confirmed.

Holly was said to be ‘in a right state’ over the major decision of returning to the competition, which is due to start in just weeks, with the line-up already having been announced.

A source has now claimed that Holly is ‘not rushing to make a decision and is putting it to the side for now to enjoy the festive period with her children.’

The insider added to The Sun: ‘Holly is expected to make her decision in the new year.’

Holly has been keeping a low profile in recent weeks (Picture: Joe Maher/WireImage)

She quit This Morning just weeks after Phillip Schofield (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

It had earlier been claimed that the mum-of-three faced ‘the toughest decision’ over continuing the role, and that, if she chose to quit it now, it may spark the end of her live broadcasting days.

An insider previously told the publication: ‘With what Holly has been faced with in the past few months, that is a hard commitment to make. She’s worried, she’s terrified and it is absolutely awful for her.’

Holly has yet to speak out about whether she’ll return to other presenting roles, after she was seen for the first time since her This Morning exit.

She left weeks after Schofield, after it was revealed she was the planned victim of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her, and has since been keeping an extremely low profile.

A new Dancing On Ice host has yet to be officially confirmed (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock)

It’s been said the star is ‘not in a good place’ as she reels from the alleged kidnap plot, with security officer Gavin Plumb, 36, recently pleading not guilty to the charges.

The defendant is accused of encouraging a third party to travel to the UK to carry out the alleged offences, and was allegedly found in possession of ‘weapons’ and had made a ‘restraint kit’.

He has a trial date fixed for June 24 next year and has been denied bail.

Metro.co.uk has approached Holly’s reps for comment.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV, and Dancing On Ice returns in 2024.

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