Holly Willoughby Cries During ‘This Morning’ After Woman’s Makeover Goes Disastrously Wrong

Jan 25, 2023

“This Morning” is a beloved British weekday TV show that gives not only the news but makeovers as well. With co-hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, makeover candidates are usually nominated by their loved ones and receive a whole new look from the ‘Glam Squad.’ The show has had many notable makeovers, including one that featured renowned makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, and even a special Valentine’s Day makeover with which a husband attempted to surprise his wife. However, unfortunately, not all of the “This Morning” makeovers go as planned, and not all makeover nominees are happy with their results, or even their nomination at all. 

In this “This Morning” makeover segment from Apr. 1, 2019, the ‘Glam Squad’ –– stylist Lisa Snowdon, hairstylist Nicki Clarke, and makeup artist Armand Beasley –– were tasked with giving Carol Elliot, 46, a new look. The wife was nominated by her husband as a surprise for their 25th wedding anniversary. According to Elliot’s husband, she always put others first, and this time he wished that Elliot would be herself first for a change. 

In a rather strange turn of events, the makeover ended up not being quite what Elliot had expected, with her even tearing up upon the reveal on live television. Shocked by the disappointment, the show’s co-host Willoughby also became emotional and tried to comfort her guest, who couldn’t hide her feelings about the new look. It seems that the occasion of April Fool’s Day might have had something to do with the makeover this time. Read on to learn more about this transformation.

“This Morning” is a British weekday show that airs on ITV and STV. The show airs live and features segments on various topics, including news, showbiz, style and beauty, food, health, and home and garden, among other segments. Because it has been airing since Oct. 3, 1988, it is one of the longest-running daytime shows on British television. 

The show was originally hosted by husband and wife duo Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan before the latest duo, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, took over to host the show on Mondays and Thursdays. However, on Fridays and Bank Holidays, the show is hosted by an alternative duo, Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond. 

Aside from “This Morning,” Schofield is also a co-host for “Dancing on Ice” along with Willoughby. However, Schofield originally gained fame as a presenter for Children’s BBC. Willoughby has also done her fair share of hosting children’s shows before being the co-host of “This Morning.” Willoughby co-presented “Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown” with her husband — which was previously known as “Ministry of Mayhem.” Willoughby even won a BAFTA Children’s Award in 2006. 

Alongside the show’s other sections, having a makeover segment has been popular since the “This Morning” show’s inception. Before Armand Beasley, Lisa Snowdon, and Nicki Clarke made up the “Glam Squad,” it was Andrew and Liz Collinge doing the hair and makeup. This time — on an episode that aired on Apr. 1, 2019 — the Glam Squad had taken on the task of making over Carol Elliot, who was 46 years old at the time, on live television. 

Host Schofield explained that Elliot, who worked as a shop assistant, was nominated by her husband, Pete, who was also present on the show. Speaking to Schofield and co-host Willoughby, Pete explained that he nominated his wife in time for two big events; their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary and Elliot’s first-ever school reunion – the latter for which Pete said his wife had been “really nervous.”

Describing her style, the doting husband said Elliot opted for a more casual look.

“Normally, she’s a jeans (and) T-shirt kind of person,” he said. “A bit like me, really.”

Schofield and Willoughby then turned to their Glam Squad to ask them how they went about Elliot’s makeover and what she and the audience should be expecting. Snowden, the fashion stylist of the bunch, said Elliot had gotten a “proper pampering.”

“We’ve pushed her out of her comfort zone quite dramatically,” Snowden said. “It’s such a big event, like (Pete) said, it’s the reunion and we want her to feel really special,” she added. 

According to Schofield, Elliot was yet to have seen her new look yet, and would only get to see it for the first time on live television at the same time as the viewers.

Celebrity hairstylist Nicky Clarke continued by explaining that he and his team were inspired to give Elliot a complete glam-up –– miles away from her usual down-to-earth look. 

“(Elliot’s hair) needed to be very different from what it was because it was very grey, quite flat, and as (Pete) said, she was a jeans-and-t-shirt sort of girl,” Clarke explained. 

“We needed to get her out of that and make it just much more glam, made her blonder, a bit more special,” he added.

Lastly, makeup artist Beasley explained that he wanted to come up with a signature look for Elliot, as she didn’t tend to wear much makeup on her own. 

“She’s got the most beautiful eyes, so I really wanted to bring out those eyes,” Beasley said, adding that he was keen on experimenting with some contouring, too. 

With that, Willoughby and Schofield said it was time for the big reveal. The presenters quickly showed Elliot’s photo from before the makeover, in which the 46-year-old was pictured sporting a mousy-blonde up-do and a simple navy sweater. Then finally, Elliot stepped out to the stage, looking worlds away from her before-look. 

The shop assistant was then wearing a short, pastel pink suede dress, white cowboy-inspired boots, and a pearl-white oversized-sequin purse. Elliot wore her hair loose and styled into curls and brightened to a lighter blonde. As for her makeup, Beasley opted for a smokey eye look for Elliot with dramatic long lashes and a bright pink lip. Snowden explained that she chose the dress for Elliot because “pastels are everywhere.”

“Pink is (Elliot’s) favorite color; you said that when I was trying on different dresses with you,” she added. 

Clarke then revealed that Elliot told him she was a fan of “old Hollywood movies,” so he was inspired to give her a hairstyle that resembled “a little bit of Betty Davis.” 

Finally, Beasley said he went for stick-on nails as Elliot’s were quite short. The stick-ons were medium-length and nude-colored, with a hint of pink sparkle to match her outfit. The makeup stylist added that he chose the dramatic false lashes because he thought they brought out Elliot’s eyes. 

Before Elliot got to see herself in the mirror, Schofield asked her what she thought of the look so far. 

“I’m very excited because I’ve never had such a special occasion to get dressed up for,” the 46-year-old said. 

“Are you ready to have a look at what you look like?” Willoughby asked Elliot, to which she said yes, and then walked toward the full-body mirror on the show’s set. That’s when the show took a turn for the unexpected; when Elliot looked into the mirror, her smile quickly disappeared, and her expression looked unimpressed –– almost sad. 

“And what do you think?” Willoughby asked nervously. 

“Uhh... yeah. It’s a nice color,” Elliot said unenthused, with her voice cracking slightly. Unable to hide her true feelings about the makeover, Elliot started to tear up as Willoughby asked her once more, “What do you think?”

With that, Elliot turned around from the mirror. Willoughby, Schofield, Pete, and the Glam Squad could then see that she was crying. “I hope those are happy tears,” Schofield said awkwardly. 

“Can we stop filming?” Elliot pleaded. 

With that request, the presenters, Pete and the styling team became visibly shocked and got up in an attempt to comfort Elliot. In an effort to make her feel better, Snowden said that she had “so many options” for Elliot if she wasn’t happy with the dress. On the other hand, Pete tried to comfort his wife by telling her she looked beautiful and hugging her. Baffled by the surprise reaction, Willoughby asked if it might have been the “shock” that upset Elliot. 

“It’s not quite what I expected,” the 46-year-old replied. 

Schofield then revealed that the show had had another surprise in store for the couple; a day trip and posh lunch in the city of London, along with a beautiful flower bouquet. According to the host, the car was already waiting outside to whisk the pair away on their adventure, and with that, Elliot and Pete were escorted off the set. Clearly still heartbroken from the disappointment, Willoughby said it was “such a shame.”

“Sometimes it just works out like that if you don’t feel comfortable or something like that, that happens,” she said. 

Schofield then listed all the activities Pete and Elliot would get to do on their tour, including cocktails in the London Eye and a Thames river cruise. He was suddenly interrupted as the camera following the couple showed their car crashing right at the start, and the scene suddenly filled with smoke. He quickly urged the cameras to stop filming the scene and instead let him and Willoughby move on with their show. 

Horrified by the tragic turn of events, Willoughby suggested they should take a break. “I think that’s probably the best thing to do now,” she said before her co-host interrupted her. “Can we just pause for a second?” Schofield asked. 

“April fools!” he then said, with the whole crew bursting into laughter. 

“Oh my God, I was panicking so much!” Willoughby said, relieved. 

Schofield then explained Elliot and Pete were actors, and the camera then showed the pair stepping out of the car, all smiles and waving. Thankfully, they were just fine. 

What did you think of this prank? Did Phillip Schofield and his Glam Squad fool you too? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends.