Holly Willoughby blamed for turning I'm A Celebrity into a 'soft' show

Holly Willoughby co-hosted the ITV show alongside Declan Donnelly in 2018

Holly Willoughby
(Image credit: David M.Benett/Dave Benett/ Getty Images)

Holly Willoughby has been blamed for turning I'm A Celebrity into a "soft" show by her This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield.

Holly presented the jungle favourite alongside Declan Donnelly in 2018, when usual co-host Anthony McPartlin took the year off to focus on his recovery from prescription drugs and alcohol addiction.

Discussing the show on Tuesday's This Morning, Phillip suggested that Ant and Dec now guide the celebrities through their Bushtucker trials because it's what Holly did during her stint on the show.

"I think the help sort of crept in when you were there," Phillip told her.

Former campmate and 2017 Queen of the Jungle Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo - appearing via video link from home - added: "Holly, I've got to agree with Phillip."

Holly, 39, squealed: "Oh, you're blaming me? How is this my fault?"

Phillip explained: "I think you changed the dynamic because it had always been the two guys who were little but quite tough, and then suddenly in you go, softer heart, helping people.

"Now, I’ve got a feeling that they've thought: 'Let’s do it like that for a bit.’"

Holly giggled: "I can't possibly comment. I don't know what you're talking about."

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield

(Image credit: HGL/GC Images)

It was claimed on Monday that the celebrity campmates are shown how to do the trials before they are aired on TV.

A source told The Sun: "The average viewer would assume that a celebrity walks from camp and goes straight into the trial without any heads up.

"In reality, they are told what they need to do, and in many cases shown how to do it and allowed to try and do it.

"It does remove some element of jeopardy, the idea that they know exactly how to escape, or unpick a lock, or release a bolt, before the cameras even start rolling."

Jenni McKnight is a beauty, lifestyle and entertainment journalist and a regular contributor to woman&home, having previously worked as Acting Senior Content Editor of our former sister site, CelebsNow. She has also written for HELLO! Magazine, GoodToKnow, the Daily Mirror and Yahoo!