Holly Willoughby shares sadness as Arsenal sack Gunnersaurus mascot after revealing football rivalry at home
HOLLY Willoughby has shared her sadness as news broke that Arsenal FC have sacked their Gunnersaurus mascot.
The 39-year-old star posted a sweet tribute to the dinosaur on her Instagram page this evening, alongside a throwback photo of herself cuddled up to him.
The post comes shortly after Holly revealed a football rivalry in her house, with her husband Dan Baldwin a long-time Arsenal fan - but their youngest son supporting Chelsea.
Captioning her sweet picture with Gunnersaurus, the This Morning favourite wrote: "So very very sad to hear the news that @officialgunnersaurus has been released by @arsenal
"He was at my son Harry’s 1st birthday and he’s a hero in our house!
"He’ll never be extinct in our eyes.Bring back Gunnersaurus! #dinohero #legend 🦖 ❣️😢"
In the photo, Holly looks fresh-faced as she poses in a sparkly tiara and white dress with lace detail.
She is clutching a glass of fizz in her hands, and is notably barefoot at her now-11-year-old son's party.
The dinosaur is in full Arsenal kit, waving dutifully at the camera.
It was announced earlier today that the football club had axed their beloved mascot after 27 years in order to cut costs amid the coronavirus crisis.
Jerry Quy, the man inside the costume since its birth in 1993, has been released by Emirates chiefs.
Having already made 55 non-playing staff redundant in August, the Gunners have now told their iconic mascot to pack his bags as part of their streamlining measures.
Holly isn't the only star to have expressed her disappointment at the decision, with Piers Morgan tweeting today: "You’re going nowhere @Gunnersaurus.
"I refuse to let @Arsenal sack you. Come on @m8arteta @Aubameyang7 - this is not what our club is about. #savegunnersaurus".
Last week, Holly tickled fans when she posted a rare photo of her son Chester posing with a Chelsea FC birthday cake as he turned six.
The blonde beauty confessed that his footie allegiance will be "killing" her Arsenal supporter husband Dan, crediting Frank Lampard for her son's obsession.
She wrote at the time: "If anyone knows my @arsenal loving husband you’ll know how much this Cake for Chester's birthday is killing him… 🤦🏼♀️ I blame you entirely @franklampard 🤪…
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";However that’s our boy all over… marching to the beat of his own drum, spreading absolute joy wherever he goes … We love you so very much Chester Chops… how is my beautiful baby 6 already! 💙"
Footballer Frank was thrilled by the shout-out, commenting: "Happy Birthday Chester my little Chelsea friend 💙💙!
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"The boy just has amazing taste in his football teams👏. Next stop a Chelsea cake for Dan on his birthday and my work is done 😀. Hope he has a great day. X"
Holly has indulged Dan's support for Arsenal so much in the past that she previously honoured the club's former manager Arsene Wenger at an Arsenal event, and while she may now have to split her loyalty it looks as though Holly will always be a Gunner at heart.