Holly Willoughby's TV return has been praised by her former This Morning colleagues Dermot O'Leary and Josie Gibson. The duo addressed it while talking about the weekend's TV as they introduced Monday's show (January 15).
Both said Holly was "back where she belongs" following the opening show of Dancing On Ice. Dermot began: "Dancing On Ice was back of course with our wonderful Holly back on television where she belongs."
"It was just so brilliant to see her," he enthused before turning to Josie, who had made an appearance on the show, he asked her: "What was the atmosphere like and what was the reception like for Hols? I bet it was incredible."
"Oh it was amazing," Josie confirmed. "Holly is back on our screens where she belongs. She looked amazing and I gave her the biggest hug and it was just so beautiful to see her."
Josie's reunion with Holly on last night's show came an hour into the glitzy figure skating contest. She arrived out on the ice in a sledge and was positioned on the other side of the rink away from hosts Holly and Stephen Mulhern.
It was revealed that she was there to share details of the show competition and the on screen encounter only lasted a couple of minutes.
42-year-old veteran broadcaster Holly had not presented any television shows since leaving This Morning last year.
Her exit in October came just months after her longtime co-host Phillip Schofield sensationally quit the ITV programme after admitting to having an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague.
Holly and Phillip - who worked alongside each other on This Morning for more than a decade - also hosted Dancing on Ice together for many years.