Holly Willoughby faces major blow as her Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt 'faces the axe after just one series unless mega-budget is cut'

Daily Mail​

04-05-2025

Holly Willoughby has been dealt a huge blow as her new Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt faces the axe.
The second series of the jungle adventure show, which was held in Costa Rica, is yet to be approved despite several meetings.
It's been reported that the show, which proved to be a hit with viewers and critics, needs to have mega-budget cuts if it is to return with hosts Holly, 44, and Bear Grylls, 50, likely to face pay cuts.
A cheaper location is also being sought, as well as plans for fewer expensive celebrities after the likes of Spice Girl Mel B and tennis player Boris Becker were among the 12 stars in the first series.
Other celebrities that took part included Lottie Moss, Danny Cipriani, Big Zuu, Joe Thomas, Kola Bokinni, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Leomie Anderson, Shirley Ballas, Steph McGovern and Una Healy.
A source has now told The Sun: 'It got excellent reviews and was a brilliant production. Bosses were happy with its performance.
'Yet if it is recommissioned, cuts will 100 per cent be made and this could include talent salaries — both Holly and Bear as well as the celebs.
'All measures are being explored. As to location, think Clacton or Croatia, not Costa Rica.'
MailOnline have contacted Netflix, Holly Willoughby and Bear Grylls ' representatives for comment.
There was high drama on the show, which first aired in February, when interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen became tangled in some ropes while rafting, lost consciousness, and had to be revived on the beach by Grylls.
Llewelyn-Bowen said: 'I had a nasty moment where I was actually blacked out on the beach and I came to and I saw this beautiful blonde with sunlight behind her … and luckily it was Holly!
'When she leaned forward and said: 'You alright, Laurence?' I knew it was Holly ... but if the angel Gabriel looks anything like Holly Willoughby, I think the angel Gabriel is gonna be very chuffed.'
Holly now appears to be taking her TV career in a new direction as she is now without an ITV show following Dancing On Ice's axing.
She recently dashed ITV's hopes that she would be their Saturday night star by turning down a lucrative deal to front game show You Bet!.
ITV sources told the Mail she was 'busy with other commitments' after Holly branched out to host Celebrity Bear Hunt in her first big role away from ITV.
It is the first time that Holly has not had an ITV show on her schedule for the first time in more than two decades after becoming the broadcaster's TV darling.
She has long been a familiar face on both ITV and ITV2, hosting on shows including Surprise Surprise, Celebrity Juice, The Games, The Xtra Factor and I'm A Celebrity.
Holly is arguably best known for having fronted This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield from 2009 until 2023, while she also helmed Dancing On Ice from 2006.
However, ITV viewers now won't be able to get a dose of Holly as there has not yet been any public news of her having signed on to another project with the channel.
In a huge blow to ITV, Holly then turned down a lucrative deal to front a new series of the classic game show You Bet! because of her other commitments.
A source told the Mail: 'You Bet was so popular with the viewers wished it came back for two shows that ITV bosses decided to give it a full run.
'Holly and Stephen are a great double act and they were both brilliant so they were asked back.
'But Holly politely declined, she has other commitments and couldn't make it work.
'She is in demand and now she isn't shackled to This Morning four days a week, she is able to look at more options, some are global.
'Celebrity Bear Hunt was a huge thing for her, her first role with Netflix and she just loved it and they loved her so there could very well be much more where that came from.