A well-loved figure from children’s television has made an impressive return to the small screen. Danielle Nicholls, who gained fame at a young age as the face of CITV on ITV, took a break from the spotlight to focus on her family and deal with the tragic loss of her daughter.
Despite being advised that she was too old to revive her broadcasting career at 47, the Manchester-based star is proving her critics wrong by co-hosting a late-night entertainment and call-in show called “The Late Night Phone-In” on Talk TV with Andre Walker. Her appearance now is a far cry from her days on CITV.
Discovered by producer Steve Ryde, Danielle started her television career by co-presenting children’s programs like Teletubbies with Stephen Mulhern from 1998 to 2001. After leaving CITV, she fronted Channel 5’s celebrity karaoke show, Night Fever. In 2012, Danielle and her husband, Dean Holden, who works as the Assistant Head Coach at EFL Championship club Hull City, tragically lost their daughter Cici to meningococcal septicaemia while on vacation in Lanzarote.
Following this heartbreaking event, Danielle faced challenges but eventually welcomed two more children into her family, while also becoming a qualified breastfeeding adviser. The year 2020 brought additional struggles during the lockdown, prompting Danielle to have a conversation with Dean that led to her decision to return to television.
In a twist of fate, Danielle reconnected with a former colleague from CITV in London, which reignited her passion for television. Despite initial discouragement due to her age, Danielle persevered and landed a presenting role on Talk TV in August 2022.
Reflecting on her journey, Danielle shared how her accent, once a point of contention, has now become an asset in her career. She noted the positive changes in the TV industry and expressed gratitude for the support she has received this time around.