Holly Willoughby got her 40th birthday off to a raucous start as she hit the champagne at 10am and enjoyed a beach party live on Wednesday’s This Morning.
The TV presenter, 40, was surprised with the party in the studio by her co-host Phillip Schofield, 58, and wiped away tears while receiving gifts from her loved ones.
Holly had slipped into a dress her mum Linda, 73, wore on her own 40th birthday in tribute to her, as she is unable to spend the day with her due to Covid restrictions.
Party time! Holly Willoughby got her 40th birthday off to a raucous start as she hit the champagne at 10am and enjoyed a beach party live on Wednesday’s This Morning
As the show kicked off, Phillip told viewers: ‘This is the song [Kool & The Gang – Celebration] we’re playing as it topped the charts on the day she [Holly] was born.
Arriving on set, which had been lit with sparklers, Holly said: ‘That is so cool! I’ve never seen sparklers in the studio. Do they last forever?’
She continued: ‘This is the dress my mum wore for her birthday. I asked mum if she still had it and she sent it up. I told her its so 80s and it didn’t fit. I thought this was really special as I can’t be with her today so it’s nice to have this to feel closer to her.’
Revealing how her birthday began, she said her husband Dan Baldwin, 46, woke her up with the children singing Happy Birthday.
‘Hello, 40!’ After receiving her gifts from the team Holly posted this snap on her Instagram page
Beaming: The TV presenter, 40, was surprised with the party in the studio by her co-host Phillip Schofield, 58, and wiped away tears while receiving gifts from her loved ones
She admitted: ‘By the time I left the house I was already crying!’
Holly was sent an abundance of gifts by her loved ones, including a Colin the Caterpillar cake, which she enjoyed wolfing down while on air.
The presenting duo were enjoying a beach party together, complete with wooden shack, balloons and sand, while Gok Wan acted as DJ on the decks.
Holly exclaimed: ‘Look! I get to go on holiday. Oh my god, this is amazing. I can’t tell you… this feels like we’re away!’
Seeing double! Holly had slipped into a dress her mum Linda, 73, wore on her own 40th birthday in tribute to her, as she is unable to spend the day with her due to Covid restrictions
They then showed a snap of Holly and her sister Kelly on her 2nd birthday and recreated the cake she had [called Holly House].
Unable to hide her emotion, Holly broke down in tears at the sight of the recreated cake.
She then opened another box which was a Teasmade, [automatic tea maker] which she nearly broke, and said: ‘Well, I love it! I’ve always said I want one.
A poster of Paul Young was then boxed and Holly said: ‘I always used to say he was my boyfriend! I think my mum actually met him and got me a signed autograph
Surprise! Before the This Morning slot, Lorraine Kelly, 61, wrapped up her show and sent her well wishes to Holly in the studio
Sweet message: Lorraine said: ‘Happy birthday to you, you’re 22! Gorgeous girl. Here is your cake! We’ll send it over to you soon’
Paul sent in a message and said: ‘I heard you were a fan. Happy birthday Holly, have a wonderful day!’
During the show Holly grew more emotional as she was surprised by a poem from Phillip and viral star Tom Foolery.
He ended the rhyme by saying: ‘She’s the sister I never had’
Emotional Holly replied: ‘Thank you so much, that was nice.’
While Phil joked: ‘My pleasure, and after the show, I’ll show you the outtakes!’
Aw! During the show Holly enjoyed a celebratory Zoom with her old school pals
She also received sweet messages from Bradley Walsh, Lisa Riley, Corrie’s Helen Worth, Keith Lemon, Sam Heughan, Fearne Cotton and Ant and Dec.
Fearne told her it wasn’t so long ago they were ‘gallivanting in their twenties’ as she shared her hopes for Holly’s ‘new chapter’ as she turns 40.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, 45, sent their congratulations and joked they would be dropping off a present on her doorstep later, before holding up two cushions with each of their faces on.
Before the This Morning slot, Lorraine Kelly, 61, wrapped up her show and sent her well wishes to Holly in the studio.
Lorraine said: ‘Happy birthday to you, you’re 22! Gorgeous girl. Here is your cake! We’ll send it over to you soon.
Holly replied: ‘Thank you, I love you!’
Phillip chimed in: ‘We also got loads of surprises lined up for Holly’, before revealing that the script Holly had received was not the one they were following.
A poem for Holly: During the show Holly grew more emotional as she was surprised by a poem from Phillip and viral star Tom Foolery
Earlier in the morning, Holly broke down in tears as she was surprised by her This Morning family while arriving at the studio.
Holly was greeted by her clapping colleagues who were singing to Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday as she arrived at the studio, which had been decorated with an abundance of rainbow coloured balloons.
The clip was filmed by her friend and co-star Phillip, who wished her well for the day as she replied: ‘I’m going to spend all day in tears!’
Surprise! Holly broke down in tears as she was surprised by her This Morning family when arriving at the studio
During the clip, Phillip shared a glimpse into Holly’s dressing room, which was laden with gifts including several huge bouquets of flowers a hamper and champagne.
The magazine show host told the camera the ‘birthday girl is about to arrive’ and that she ‘didn’t know’ about the surprise greeting from their colleagues.
He also panned to a floor sticker which read: ‘Happy birthday Holly!’
Happy birthday, Holly! She was greeted by her clapping colleagues who were singing to ‘happy birthday’ as she arrived at the studio, which had been decorated with rainbow balloons
Celebrate: The clip was filmed by her friend and co-star Phillip, who wished her well for the day and she replied: ‘I’m going to spend all day in tears!’
Birthday girl: During the clip, Phillip shared a glimpse into Holly’s dressing room, which was laden with gifts including a huge bouquet of flowers and a hamper
Emotional: She could be heard telling someone nearby: ‘I’m just going to go in here and cry!’
Holly appeared visibly emotional as she arrived in her dressing room to see a huge light display which spelt out ’40’, to celebrate the occasion.
She could be heard telling someone nearby: ‘I’m just going to go in here and cry!’
As well as posting the clip on his Instagram Stories, Phillip shared a stunning black and white image of them together alongside a message, which read: ‘Happy birthday gorgeous!’
Overwhelmed: Holly put her hand to her mouth in shock as she realised what had been organised for her
Secret’s out! The magazine show host told the camera the ‘birthday girl is about to arrive’ and that she ‘didn’t know’ about the surprise greeting from their colleagues
Close pals: As well as posting the clip on his Instagram Stories, Phillip shared a stunning black and white image of them together alongside a message, which read: ‘Happy birthday gorgeous!’
Meanwhile, Piers Morgan wished Holly a happy birthday during Good Morning Britain, and told viewers: ‘I texted her saying: Do you feel blessed or enraged?’
‘And she said, ”Blessed, obviously!” with a laughing emoji, which doesn’t suggest she feels blessed, but wishing you a very happy birthday!’
He later shared another tribute to her on Instagram, by posting a picture of them together at the ITV Palooza, alongside the caption: ‘Happy 40th Birthday to my ever -fabulous and ever-so-slightly naughty friend @hollywilloughby.’
Holly’s sister Kelly, 42, also wished her younger sibling a happy birthday with a sweet post on the day, which included a series of throwback snaps.
Lovely: He later shared another tribute to her on Instagram, by posting a picture of them together at the ITV Palooza, alongside the caption: ‘Happy 40th Birthday to my ever -fabulous and ever-so-slightly naughty friend @hollywilloughby’
‘Love you sis!’ Holly’s sister Kelly, 42, also wished her younger sibling a happy birthday with a sweet post on the day, which included a series of throwback snaps
Cocktail o’clock: Kelly shared a snap of Holly as a little girl as well a photograph of them enjoying a series of cocktails together, as Holly flashed a beaming smile for the camera
Kelly shared a snap of Holly as a little girl as well a photograph of them enjoying a series of cocktails together, as Holly flashed a beaming smile for the camera.
A third image saw them posing for a smiley selfie together.
She wrote alongside the gallery: To my darling Princess Holly. Wishing you the most magical 40th birthday. Emotions have spun completely out of control today, because we can’t be together…
‘But just know that I love you more than Ana loves Elsa, and someday soon we’ll celebrate this special day with everything we’ve got!!! Love you sis.’
She wrote alongside the gallery: To my darling Princess Holly. Wishing you the most magical 40th birthday. Emotions have spun completely out of control today, because we can’t be together…’
Say cheese! A third image saw them posing for a smiley selfie together
Holly’s best pal Fearne Cotton took the opportunity to share some hilarious throwbacks from their twenties on her birthday.
Fearne, 39, shared a snap of the long-term pals hanging out on a beach together and lounging beside a sun-soaked pool in their bikinis.
She wrote: Happy 40th @hollywilloughby. How has time flown by so quickly. Your birthday today gave me the perfect excuse to delve back into our early twenties.
‘So much fun and freedom and laughter and gin. Wishing you the best day Holly! Here’s to 40 darling.’
Beach babes! Holly’s best pal Fearne Cotton took the opportunity to share some hilarious throwbacks from their twenties on her birthday
Loving life: Fearne, 39, shared a snap of the long-term pals hanging out on a beach together and lounging beside a sun-soaked pool in their bikinis
Some of Holly’s other closest gal pals were also quick to wish their pal well on the day, as Emma Bunton, Nicole Appleton and Tamzin Outhwaite all shared tributes.
Sharing a selection of beaming selfies with Holly, Emma, 45, wrote: ‘It’s your birthday!!!! Happy 40th to this beautiful soul @hollywilloughby.
‘How I wish we could be celebrating with you today. Sending so much birthday love and hugs. Have the best day with your gorgeous family.’
Friends’ Holly’s closest gal pals were also quick to wish their pal well on the day, as Emma Bunton, Nicole Appleton and Tamzin Outhwaite all shared tributes
Sharing a selection of beaming selfies with Holly, Emma, 45, wrote: ‘It’s your birthday!!!! Happy 40th to this beautiful soul @hollywilloughby’
She added: ‘How I wish we could be celebrating with you today. Sending so much birthday love and hugs. Have the best day with your gorgeous family’
One of Holly’s closest friends Nicole Appleton also posted a series of old photos to commemorate the milestone occasion.
Nicole, 46, wrote: ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! My gorgeous girl. I love you to bits!! I can’t wait to have a proper birthday squeeze!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.’
Tamzin, 50, reshared one of the images of the three women together and wrote: ‘Happy birthday @hollywilloughby. Have a great day darling.’
Aw! One of Holly’s closest friends Nicole Appleton also posted a series of old photos to commemorate the milestone occasion
Nicole, 46, wrote: ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! My gorgeous girl. I love you to bits!! I can’t wait to have a proper birthday squeeze!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX’
Holly’s friend and former Celebrity Juice co-star Keith Lemon also shared a sweet post to celebrate the day.
The TV personality stepped back from her role as team captain on the comedy panel show after 12 years last year.
Keith wrote: ‘Appy birfday to my pal @hollywilloughby have the RADest day ya can have! Lotsa love xxx’
‘Appy birfday!’ Holly’s friend and former Celebrity Juice co-star Keith Lemon also shared a sweet post to celebrate the day
Sweet: Tamzin, 50, reshared one of the images of the three women together and wrote: ‘Happy birthday @hollywilloughby. Have a great day darling’
On her own Instagram page, Holly slipped into her mother’s 40th birthday party dress as she reached the milestone age.
She wowed in the vibrant navy and pink floral peplum dress in honour of her mother Linda, who she is unable to see on her birthday amid the ongoing pandemic.
Holly marked the poignant moment by sharing a throwback snap of Linda, now 72, proudly wearing the dress in 1988.
33 years on: On her own Instagram page, Holly slipped into her mother’s 40th birthday party dress as she reached the milestone age
It was clearly to see where the blonde beauty had inherited her signature style from as Linda matched the gown with navy peeptoe heels and a stylish pair of shades.
In 2021, Holly showcased her toned legs in a pair of nude sandals and wore her tresses in soft waves.
The star penned an emotional caption in honour of her mother, writing: ‘This photo of my Mum was taken on her 40th birthday at the party she had in the garden. I remember this day so clearly.
‘It’s a strange thing to reach the age you remember your Mum being! …I asked her if she’d kept the dress and of course she had… Strange moment zipping it up this morning, wondering how she felt on her big day…
‘I can’t be with my Mum or Dad today but wearing this in her honour makes me feel closer to them… love you Mumma!’
Miss you: The This Morning presenter wowed in a vibrant navy and pink floral peplum dress in honour of her mother Linda, who she is unable to see on her birthday amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Missed: Holly shares a close bond with her glamorous mother (pictured together in 2019)