Holly Willoughby's new YouTube series has reportedly ignited a behind-the-scenes battle with her former employers at ITV, as the network allegedly moved to book guests who were scheduled to appear on her fledgling digital show.
The former "This Morning" host, who spent 14 years as the face of ITV's flagship daytime program, launched her YouTube series "Together" last week—marking her first major on-screen project since her dramatic departure from the network in October 2023. The show, which features Willoughby in conversations with various guests, drew 47,000 views within its first day of release, outperforming the latest episode of Richard Osman's "The Rest is Entertainment," which garnered 29,000 views on the same day.
According to The Mail on Sunday, tensions escalated when ITV executives allegedly contacted two guests—Ellen Roome and food bloggers Original Flava—who had already filmed interviews with Willoughby for upcoming episodes of "Together." The guests' names had been publicly listed in a press release promoting the series. The publication reported that "This Morning" producers subsequently invited the same individuals to appear on their program before Willoughby's episodes were released.
A source familiar with the booking dispute told The Mail on Sunday that the timing appeared deliberate, noting that Roome, who has been advocating for a personal cause for an extended period, had never previously been invited to appear on "This Morning." The source characterized the network's move as resembling "sabotage," adding that Willoughby's team had issued the press release "in good faith" to share upcoming content.
"You hate to think it, but it feels a bit like sabotage," the source told the publication. "ITV must be very jealous indeed."
Background of this event
The guest booking controversy comes amid a broader shift in the television industry, where legacy broadcasters are increasingly competing with digital platforms and independent creators for talent and audience attention. Willoughby's departure from "This Morning" followed a turbulent period for the program, which included the exit of her longtime co-host Phillip Schofield in May 2023 amid revelations about an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger colleague. The network has since faced ongoing challenges in rebuilding viewer trust and stabilizing its daytime lineup.
Willoughby, who abruptly left "This Morning" after police informed her they had foiled a plot by former security guard Gary Plumb to kidnap, rape, and murder her, has acknowledged that she is still navigating the learning curve of producing independent digital content. Her transition from traditional broadcast television to YouTube reflects a growing trend among established media personalities seeking greater creative control and direct audience engagement outside the constraints of network programming.
The competition for guest bookings underscores the increasingly blurred lines between traditional and digital media, as established networks vie for relevance and viewership in an evolving landscape where on-demand content continues to gain ground. Neither ITV nor Willoughby's representatives have publicly commented on the reported guest booking dispute.
