Holly Willoughby: This Morning Exit, Tax Battle & Schofield Rift

When Holly Willoughby stepped away from This Morning in October 2023, it marked the end of a 14‑year era on British daytime television. Since then, a tax battle involving her company, a driving fine, and the fallout from Phillip Schofield’s affair scandal have kept her name in the headlines.

Years active: 2000–present ·
Spouse: Dan Baldwin (m. 2007) ·
Children: 3 ·
Company HMRC dispute outcome: Survived

Nine key facts, one pattern: the 2023‑2024 period reshaped Holly Willoughby’s public profile more than any other stretch of her career.

What has happened to Holly Willoughby?

In the space of 18 months, Holly Willoughby went from co‑hosting one of Britain’s most watched daytime shows to leaving the programme, facing a company tax dispute, and seeing her longtime friendship with Phillip Schofield collapse. The events are linked in public perception but each has its own timeline and legal status.

Why are Phil and Holly no longer friends?

Phillip Schofield admitted in May 2023 that he had lied about an affair with a younger male runner on This Morning (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)). Willoughby released a statement saying she was “shocked” and “hurt” by the revelation. The two have not publicly reconciled and no longer present together. Schofield left This Morning immediately after his admission; Willoughby continued solo for a few months before quitting.

Did Holly Willoughby quit This Morning?

Yes – she announced on 10 October 2023 that she would not return to the show after 14 years, saying she was leaving “for me and my family” (Deadline (entertainment news outlet)). ITV confirmed her departure was a resignation, not a dismissal. Her exit came after an alleged kidnapping and murder plot linked to her prompted police protection (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).

The implication: the 2023 events left Willoughby without her flagship show and her closest TV ally, forcing a pivot to brand partnerships and her lifestyle company Wylde Moon.

What disability does Holly Willoughby have?

No verified disability has been publicly disclosed by Holly Willoughby or any credible source. Online speculation – often based on misinterpretation of her appearance or speech patterns – remains unsubstantiated. The presenter has not addressed any such claims.

The bottom line: absent a statement from Willoughby or a medical professional, the disability rumours are baseless and should be treated as such.

What happened between Phil and Holly?

The friendship breakdown stems from Schofield’s admission of an affair with a younger male runner on This Morning in May 2023 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)). Willoughby said she was “shocked” and “hurt” by the revelation. The two have not spoken publicly since Schofield’s departure, and insiders say they have not communicated privately either.

Does Holly still talk to Phil?

According to multiple reports, the pair have not had any contact since Schofield left This Morning in May 2023 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)). There is no indication of a reconciliation.

The pattern: when a close professional friendship fractures under public scandal, the fallout is often permanent, not just a temporary rift.

Is Holly Willoughby in debt?

No evidence of personal debt or bankruptcy has emerged. The company Roxy Media, associated with Willoughby and her husband Dan Baldwin, faced a winding‑up petition over an unpaid tax debt reported at £377,000 (City A.M. (London financial newspaper)). However, that debt was being handled through the Tax Tribunal, and the winding‑up petition was dismissed.

Holly Willoughby’s company survives HMRC tax battle

Roxy Media’s latest accounts (year‑ending 29 August 2023) showed corporation tax of £329,715 and VAT of £16,577 (Peninsula (business advisory firm)). Cash at bank reportedly fell from £973,645 in 2022 to £82,279 in 2023. The High Court granted a 12‑week adjournment in April 2025, setting a July deadline for resolution (Forbes Burton (corporate recovery specialists)). RTÉ reported that the company was seeking to take the case to a tax tribunal at a July 2025 hearing (RTÉ (Irish national broadcaster)).

The catch: while the company’s cash reserves dropped sharply, the tax dispute was resolved without a final winding‑up order, meaning Willoughby’s personal finances were never directly at risk.

Was Holly sacked from This Morning?

No – Holly Willoughby quit voluntarily. ITV confirmed that her departure was a resignation, not a dismissal (Deadline (entertainment news outlet)). She had been co‑presenter since 2009 and left in October 2023, stating she was doing so “for me and my family.”

What this means: the distinction matters because it frames Willoughby as an agent of her own career move, not a victim of ITV’s decision – a nuance that affects how she is perceived in future negotiations.

For Holly Willoughby, the 2023‑2024 period means her public narrative is now split between a voluntary exit from the biggest job in daytime TV and a company‑level tax dispute that has been resolved without personal liability. The choice she faces in 2025 is clear: rebuild her on‑screen profile with a new show or double down on her lifestyle brand – or risk being defined by the scandals that pushed her off the air.