Television presenter Holly Willoughby has come to the defence of Meghan Markle following mixed reactions to her own new programme. Holly fronted ITV's This Morning for 14 years before departing in 2023 and recently unveiled her own YouTube channel, Holly Willoughby Together. Her new programme has garnered some harsh criticism despite featuring guests such as actor Stanley Tucci and comedian Katherine Ryan.
Comparisons to Meghan's Netflix Series
The programme has drawn comparisons to Meghan's Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, which similarly faced its fair share of backlash. Holly, 45, has now tackled the criticism head-on and spoken up for Meghan, also 45, during an interview where she discussed her feelings about making such a bold move away from conventional broadcasting.
Speaking to the Times about Meghan, Holly responded to the harsh reviews she endured. She said: "I know it got an absolute hammering, but I actually really enjoyed her show."
Holly Acknowledges the Risk
Holly also acknowledged the gamble she was taking with her own channel. The presenter said: "Of course it's a risk. It's not safe. I can't fall back on anything. You're relying on people coming to find you and staying with you because they want to watch you."
Holly's show has been met with some harsh critiques, with the Telegraph awarding it a mere one star out of five, labelling it as "dire", and adding that it "makes Meghan look good," reports the Express. Meanwhile, the Guardian described it as an "aggressive audition" for whether Holly was "allowed to be famous again", before commending the presenter for doing something they believed she excelled at.
Life After This Morning
Holly has previously discussed life after her departure from This Morning when she guested on Alan Carr and Lee Peart's Bottoms Up! podcast. The mother-of-three confessed that once she stopped working, she realised she was "so lazy". She elaborated: "For somebody who worked a lot and was really busy and people were like, 'don't know how you do it, how do you keep so many plates spinning?' - I was like, wow, I'm literally half woman-half mattress. I adapted like that."
Meghan's Return to TV
While Holly has been making a comeback to UK screens via podcasts and YouTube, Meghan has also returned to television on MasterChef Australia, featuring as a guest judge on the show. As part of her stint, contestants were tasked with crafting a dish 'fit for a Duchess'. The episode, recorded in April during Prince Harry and Meghan's visit to Australia, has received mixed reviews, but still managed to attract approximately 1.5 million viewers.
In the programme, Meghan professed her passion for cooking, stating: "Food and cooking to me is really a love language. I think it's such a great way to connect. It's something that can feel sentimental and meaningful and it's how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family, and my kids."
