Children's Television Star Makes Emotional Return to Broadcasting
Beloved children's television personality Danielle Nicholls has made a remarkable and emotional return to the small screen, appearing almost unrecognizable from her earlier career days. The 47-year-old presenter from Manchester now co-hosts The Late Night Phone-In on TalkTV alongside Andre Walker every Saturday evening, marking a significant comeback after years away from the spotlight.
Rise to Fame and Family Focus
Danielle Nicholls first rose to prominence at just 19 years old as a familiar face on ITV's children's channel CITV between 1998 and 2001. Discovered by producer Steve Ryde, she co-presented the daily children's programming, introducing shows like Teletubbies while working alongside fellow presenter Stephen Mulhern. Following her CITV tenure, she fronted Channel 5's celebrity karaoke programme Night Fever before stepping back from television to focus on her growing family.
By 2012, Danielle had welcomed three children with her husband Dean Holden, who serves as Assistant Head Coach at EFL Championship club Hull City and previously managed Charlton Athletic. However, tragedy struck the family that same year during a holiday in Lanzarote when their daughter Cici developed meningococcal septicaemia, a severe bacterial infection causing blood poisoning that leads to sepsis. Despite urgent medical intervention and a helicopter standing by to airlift her to intensive care, Cici tragically passed away within just three hours.
Navigating Grief and Professional Challenges
The devastating loss profoundly impacted Danielle's life and career trajectory. She recalled what she described as her "worst" job interview occurring merely two weeks after Cici's death, explaining to her husband: "I looked at the other kids and said to Dean 'I can't go on telly pretending I'm happy.'" In the wake of this heartbreaking period, Danielle and Dean welcomed two more children, Mitzi and Chase, who joined their siblings Joey and Ellis.
For the subsequent eight years, Danielle immersed herself in family life and qualified as a breastfeeding adviser to support other mothers. She reflected: "For the next eight years I submerged myself. And then Covid hit. I was in a dark place." The 2020 lockdown period proved particularly challenging, prompting what she described as a "meltdown" conversation with her husband where they decided it was time for her professional return.
Overcoming Ageism and Securing Comeback
Danielle's path back to television faced significant obstacles, including age-related skepticism from industry professionals. She revealed: "Two weeks before that meeting I was told I was on the wrong side of 40. They said 'darling you're on the wrong side of 40 and you haven't got a hope.' But that spurred me on. Once I got over it and stopped crying it gave me a kick up the a**e."
Serendipity played a crucial role in her return when she coincidentally bumped into a former CITV colleague in London while accompanying her husband to a talkSPORT interview. This chance encounter helped pave the way for her current role on TalkTV, which she secured in August 2022.
Embracing Authenticity in Modern Television
Now firmly reestablished in broadcasting, Danielle has noticed positive changes in the industry landscape compared to her earlier career. She observed: "People used to comment on my accent but nowadays it's gone in my favour. I remember meeting with an agent and they said 'we're not taking on any more northerners, we've already got one girl from Scotland.' At 19 getting famous that quickly, it was intimidating. I do think being in TV has changed. It's much nicer this time around."
Her journey from children's television star to grieving mother and back to television presenter represents a powerful narrative of resilience, professional determination, and personal growth. Despite the profound challenges she has faced, Danielle Nicholls has successfully reclaimed her place in the broadcasting world while honoring her family's memory and her own evolving identity.
