Simon Cowell tried to convince Holly Willoughby to turn down This Morning.
The 37-year-old presenter has revealed the music mogul, who she worked with on The Xtra Factor in 2008, tried to warn her that joining the programme would be a “really big mistake.”
Speaking on ‘This Morning: 30 Unforgettable Years’, which aired on Tuesday night, she said: “I remember I was doing Xtra Factor and it got to the point where we had to let Simon Cowell know that I was coming to do This Morning, and he said: ‘I think that would be a really big mistake.'”
She added: “He got that wrong!”
Holly has hosted the brunch-time ITV show alongside Phillip Schofield since 2009, after she was brought in as Fern Britton’s replacement.
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The mum of three owes a lot to Phillip – who she was working with on Dancing on Ice at the time – as he told bosses he would leave unless they hired her as his co-presenter.
He said: “I’d said I’m not doing it with anyone else, it has to be you or I’m not doing it.”
To which Holly replied: “And that I have to thank you for, because if it wasn’t for you, there is no doubt I wouldn’t be doing this.”
The pair – who host the show Monday through to Thursday while Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes present it on Fridays – have become fan favourites over the years and the programme even received a special BAFTA on Monday night.
Holding back the tears as she collected the award on behalf of the show, Holly said: “To be stood up here holding a BAFTA for a show that you’re lucky enough to even be a part of is incredible. This Morning has the best team and has done for 30 years.
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“Everybody has said it’s something that has shaped their career and is something that stays with you. This show gives you something that no other show can I think.
“Whether it be friendship or skills in telly or whether it be whatever you take with you for the rest of time. I think this is very special and everyone should be very proud.”
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