Holly Willoughby, once a beloved figure on British television, faced a storm of controversy on January 28, 2024, when she issued a public apology on Dancing on Ice after appearing to swear live on air. The incident, which shocked millions of viewers across the UK, has sparked speculation about whether it played a role in her eventual departure from ITV in October 2023. As the dust settles, fans and critics are piecing together the events that may have led to her exit from the network.

During the live broadcast of Dancing on Ice, Willoughby was startled by co-host Stephen Mulhern, who playfully screamed in her ear while introducing a performance. Viewers claimed she muttered “f**k off” under her breath, prompting a wave of reactions on social media platforms like X, where users posted, “Holly Willoughby swearing on live TV is iconic!” and “Did she really say that? #DancingOnIce.” Addressing the incident later in the show, Willoughby apologized, saying, “A little bit earlier, Stephen made me jump, and it might have sounded like a naughty word slipped out. I don’t think I did, but I’m sorry if you thought you heard it.” She encouraged viewers to rewatch on ITV Player to clarify, insisting no profanity occurred.

The apology, while intended to defuse the situation, didn’t quell public outrage. Some viewers deemed the incident unprofessional, with one X user stating, “Holly’s behavior was unacceptable for a family show.” This wasn’t her first brush with controversy—Willoughby and former co-host Phillip Schofield faced backlash in 2022 over “queue-gate,” where they were accused of skipping the line to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. That incident led to 55 Ofcom complaints and a petition with over 76,000 signatures calling for their dismissal, highlighting their vulnerability to public scrutiny.

While ITV stood by Willoughby during the Dancing on Ice controversy, her exit from This Morning in October 2023—following a reported kidnap threat and Schofield’s scandal—raised questions about whether the swearing incident damaged her reputation further. ITV stated, “Everyone on the programme will miss her enormously,” but sources suggest the cumulative effect of controversies, including the live TV gaffe, strained her standing. Her Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt was later axed, adding to speculation about her career trajectory.

Could the Dancing on Ice incident have been a factor in ITV’s decision to part ways? While no direct evidence links the apology to her exit, the public and media backlash likely didn’t help. As Willoughby navigates her next steps, this moment remains a pivotal chapter in her tumultuous journey, leaving fans wondering if her TV comeback is possible.